Steve McClaren sacked by Derby County AGAIN with Championship play-off push in tatters

Steve McClaren has been sacked by Derby County for a second time following a dreadful run of results.

The Rams look to have fallen out of the Championship play-off race having won just once in their last nine games.

Chairman Mel Morris took the decision to axe the former England manager again in the wake of Friday’s 3-0 defeat to high-flying Brighton.

McClaren was restored to the Derby hotseat in October, just 17 months after he was first dismissed, and now finds himself out of work once more.

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Chairman Morris said in a statement: “Steve is a great coach, we have very talented players and first class facilities but the heartbeat, commitment, focus and passion has been lacking something fundamental.

“The Brighton game on Friday night was so far from what we expect to see from those wearing a Derby County shirt.

“To ensure we are on the right path, it is important to put the building blocks in place so we can develop a team we can all be proud of. Players should wear the shirt with pride and share, espouse and exude the qualities and values we believe are important to the club, its supporters and the community.

“We need a manager who shares our values and who is prepared to develop the team, staff and processes that will set us on course for a sustainable place in the Premier League. We are less concerned about timescales than we are about getting things right. Of course we would like to achieve this sooner rather than later.

“That manager will of course be given the full support and backing of myself, the board, our executive team and staff to shape and develop the team around those who truly and demonstrably want to be part of Derby County.”

Derby also used the statement to confirm they expect to name McClaren’s successor in the next few days.