Report: Derby County identify three possible Rowett replacements, including Mick McCarthy

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Derby County lost Gary Rowett to Championship newcomers Stoke City but Pride Park chairman Mel Morris is already putting plans in place.

Eight days after Derby County’s play-off semi-final defeat to Fulham, Gary Rowett’s 14 month spell at Pride Park has come to an end.

Rowett, who guided The Rams to sixth in last season’s Championship, has been appointed as the new manager at Stoke City and has been tasked with leading The Potters back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. But Derby are not waiting around trying to find a replacement.

According to The Mirror (live blog, 1.39pm), owner Mel Morris has already started interviewing potential replacements with Championship experience a key attribute that he is looking out for.

And the report believes there are three names in the frame; Dean Smith (below), Mick McCarthy and Carlos Carvalhal.

Smith is the only one of the three still in work, having lead Brentford to an impressive ninth placed finish last season. His sides are renowned for playing free-flowing, attractive football that could appeal to Derby fans after the relative pragmatism of the Rowett era.

McCarthy, however, is hardly cut from the same cloth. A veteran Yorkshireman, McCarthy recently left Ipswich Town after seven years at Portman Road, the final few seasons having been dominated by criticism from supporters over a less than adventurous style of football.

To give him his credit though, Ipswich finished in the top half in four of the last five seasons despite boasting one of the league’s smallest budgets.

Carvalhal, meanwhile, is also on the market after being sacked by Swansea City following their relegation from the Premier League. The affable Portuguese was also given his marching orders by Sheffield Wednesday at Christmas despite reaching the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.