ROO ON MAC’S RAMS RADAR

STEVE McCLAREN will take responsibility for picking Derby’s new manager after being given complete control of the football side of the club.

The former Rams boss (above) has returned to Pride Park as technical director and adviser. He has been given a remit to oversee all football matters from the first team down to the academy.

That will include selecting Phillip Cocu’s long-term replacement after er the Dutchman was sacked a fortnight ago.

Player-coach Wayne Rooney (right), who is now the club’s sole interim manager, is in the frame alongside specialist first-team coach ch Liam Rosenior and former Chelsea and England captain John Terry, who is Dean Smith’s No.2 at Aston Villa.

The return of McClaren has been agreed by both current owner Mel Morris and Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan’s Derventio Holdings, to whom Morris is in the process of selling the Championship club.

McLaren’s appointment will be ratified as soon as the sale goes through but he is already heavily involved in the decision-making processes.

Sheikh Khaled – a cousin of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nehayan – is paying around £60million for Derby.

And former Rams star Alan Hinton says the club could grow as big as City if Rooney is made permanent manager with millions to spend.

“With all this money there is absolutely no reason why Derby can’t be as big as Man City,” said Hinton who starred on the wing when the Rams won the old First Division in 1972 and 1975.

“You look at Man City and what the cousin of the Sheikh who wants Derby has done there.

“There is no reason why Derby can’t be like that with this money.

“I can’t wait for it to happen. It’s so exciting. I’m a forward-thinker and I can see them getting safe and then have a good run at getting into the Premier League next season.”

Newcastle midfielder Matty Longstaff, 20, has emerged as a potential January loan target for Derby.