Thanks a million

How McClaren deal saved United a fortune:

NEWCASTLE United were saved from forking out up to £1m in compensation to Steve McClaren – by Championship rivals Derby County.

The Magpies sacked McClaren in March 2016 with the club languishing in the Premier League bottom three – they were subsequently relegated – but only after the former England boss had pocketed a total of £674,000 in wages during nine disastrous months in charge.

And, though the 55-year-old did receive remuneration from Newcastle following his dismissal less than 12 months into a threeyear contract, it was significantly reduced by McClaren subsequently being re-appointed by Derby in October.

Newcastle’s accounts for 2015/16 confirm that the “highest-paid director” of the four board members last season, which is understood to be McClaren, was paid £674,000 before he was forced to resign as a director once he was sacked.

A figure of £1m is also listed as “compensation for loss of office”, which refers to McClaren’s dismissal as head coach – though United only actually paid a portion of that amount to the ex-Middlesbrough manager. It is understood that £1m needed to be set aside in the club’s accounts because Newcastle could have been forced to pay up to that full amount over a longer period of time, had McClaren failed to gain subsequent employment.

But, given that McClaren was appointed at the iPro Stadium for a second time less than seven months after being relieved of his United duties, the Rams ended up saving Newcastle from paying out the full compensation package. And the irony of the situation is that, not only did Derby rescue the Magpies from reimbursing McClaren the full £1m, the Rams themselves are now remunerating the ex-England manager themselves.

McClaren was sacked by Derby for a second time in March – he was originally dismissed by the Rams in May 2015 after refusing to quash speculation linking him with a move to St James’ Park – after just five months in charge.

The Magpies’ accounts also confirmed that managing director Lee Charnley’s annual salary remained at £150,000 for the 2015/16 campaign.

It can also be revealed that the other two members on the former four-man Newcastle board – chief scout Graham Carr and director Bob Moncur – received £132,000 between them cumulatively in wages last season.

£1m needed to be set aside in the club’s accounts because Newcastle could have been forced to pay up to that