I’m staying, insists gutted loser Steve
STEVE McCLAREN’S anger and disappointment at blowing the play-offs, led to him claiming his future is at Derby.
But the former England boss might be needing a new brolly to protect him from the venom of fans who blame him for wrecking the Premier League dream.
With only a point required to clinch another tilt at the top flight – the spectacular last day meltdown of defensive errors to gift goals to Michael Hector, Garath McCleary and Kwesi Appiah – and Darren Bent’s missed penalty was the final insult.
The charge sheet does not make pleasant reading for McClaren, who, while being tipped heavily to walk out for Newcastle this summer, has gone from potential champ to chump in the space of two months.
At the end of February, Derby were five points clear at the top of the table and the club could almost taste Premier League football.
No wonder Newcastle were casting envious glances. Fast-forward two months and the fall from the summit of the championship has been spectacular.
Derby’s implosion makes painful reading. Just two wins from their last 13 games and a miserable 12 points and the inquest will be long and painful.
But McClaren, who has previously done little to completely kill the Newcastle interest, insists the pain of failure will only drive him to lead another Derby push next season.
“I am annoyed, frustrated and angry about the last two months. I am really determined to do something about it,” insisted McClaren.
“This is a journey not the end. From my point of view I am under contract. Speculation has been going on for months. No one mentioned it when we were top of the table.
“I want to go again next season. That is my aim at this present moment. It is my intention to sort this out, until I am told otherwise, or something happens.
“Nothing has been agreed with Newcastle. There have been no discussions. What is happening at Newcastle, I don’t know. You will have to ask them.”
McClaren’s words may anger Derby fans, who had been wanting him to squash speculation on his future since the start of 2015.
The anger started to simmer after 107 seconds when Will Hughes’ poor pass let in Appiah for his first Reading goal.
Adam Federici produced a magnificent penalty save to defy Bent and Reading visibly got stronger.
“I have told the lads to go on holiday and remember what it feels like and not to let it go. Things will be different next season for us,” said boss Steve Clarke.
Derby though will be haunted by Hector’s closerange goal and McCleary’s clinching penalty.