The former Newcastle United head coach has returned to Derby County.
Steve McClaren has admitted to The Derby Telegraph that speculation linking him with Newcastle United did affect him at Derby County.
McClaren was sacked by Derby 17 months ago following his failure to guide the Rams to a top-six finish in the Championship during the 2014-15 season.
The former England boss was subsequently handed the Newcastle United managerial job, but he did not last at St. James’ Park for the entire 2015-16 campaign.
As reported by The Sun, McClaren was linked with the Newcastle managerial job following the departure of Alan Pardew to Crystal Palace in January 2015.
Derby suffered a dramatic late collapse in the second half of the 2014-15 campaign and failed to clinch a playoff spot in the Championship.
McClaren has admitted that it was a mistake on his part not to quash the speculation at the time.
“My mistake was not quashing that [the Newcastle speculation and rumour], not dampening that, and not committing,” McClaren told The Derby Telegraph. “That is my fault and I apologise for that.
“By the time I had committed to the club [Derby], the club had every right to sack me, and they did. I could have no qualms about it.”
McClaren did a good job overall at Derby, and his return to the iPro Stadium should be welcomed by the fans.
The Englishman is a brilliant coach and a good manager, and he knows Derby quite well.
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