As Derby County step up their search for a new manager, rumours are rife over the return of the Mac.
Derby County chairman Mel Morris
After the departure of Nigel Pearson, Derby County fans have once more found themselves in that anxious limbo period, as they await the announcement of the club’s latest manager. After only five months, it’s fair to say that the appointment of the former Leicester manager did not go to plan, and the club are now left to reassess the structure of the club, and what type of manager might best suit them going forward.
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren looks dejected
But could going forward start by going backward? It appears that amongst a number of candidates, with current caretaker manager Chris Powell being the favourite, that former boss Steve McClaren is a potential front-runner for the role.
Derby manager Steve McClaren
At a recent Q&A event, Derby’s Chairman, Mel Morris, stated his admiration for the work that McClaren and cited the positivity, excitement and vision that was instilled in the club during his tenure. After also stating at this event that the next manager would need to be aligned with the club’s vision (presumably the same vision that was instilled under McClaren), could the club be preparing supporters for the possible return of the former England and Newcastle manager?
There are a number of reasons why McClaren could be an excellent choice for Derby. During his previous tenure, Derby played some of the best football seen at the club for many, many years, and he managed to inspire a feeling of positivity at the club that just hasn’t been present since his departure. He’s got a proven record of success at Derby, and there’s no reason why, if given the time, he couldn’t achieve that again.
McClaren UEFA Cup
However, there would be many obstacles to overcome. Many Rams fans still firmly believe that the reason for the club’s capitulation, towards the end of McClaren’s tenure, was due to his disloyalty and his flirting with the possibility of taking the Newcastle job. Though this is something the manager has always denied, many believe that the former England boss lost the respect of his playing staff, just as he lost the respect of many fans by not properly disregarding his links to Newcastle.
Would Derby fans get on-board with McClaren’s return, or is there too much bad blood?
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