Derby County have reappointed Steve McClaren as their manager.
Former Arsenal and Aston Villa attacker Paul Merson has written in The Daily Star that Steve McClaren’s appointment as the Derby County manager is weird.
Derby have appointed McClaren as the permanent manager following the recent departure of Nigel Pearson.
The 55-year-old former Newcastle United boss was sacked by the Rams just 17 months ago, but he is now back at the iPro Stadium.
The Rams are struggling in the Championship at the moment and are currently just a point above the relegation zone.
Former Arsenal and Villa attacker Merson has given his take on Derby’s decision to re-hire McClaren and has also sent a warning to the Rams.
“The really strange one is Steve McClaren going back to Derby,” Merson wrote in The Daily Star. “I wonder how the fans will take that one? It’s one of the weirdest appointments ever.
“They only sacked him a few months ago. Do they think he’s gone away and got much better since? He hasn’t done anything!
“Something is not quite right at Derby and the owner needs to sort it out otherwise it could be doomed to failure again.”
Former Birmingham City and Derby County midfielder Robbie Savage has suggested in The Mirror that McClaren is lucky to get the job at the iPro Stadium.
“Steve McClaren failed in each of his last three seasons as a manager,” Savage wrote in The Mirror. “In my book, he is incredibly lucky to get his old job back at Derby.
“He couldn’t deliver promotion to the top flight against QPR’s 10 men at Wembley two years ago and then he missed the play-offs altogether the following year — after being top of the Championship with 13 games to go.
“Last season, Newcastle were going down when he was sacked in March with 10 games to go.”
Derby will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Leeds United at the iPro Stadium in the Championship.
The Rams will head into the match against the Whites on the back of a 1-1 draw with Reading away from home at the Madejski Stadium in the league.
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