Although the sacking of Steve McClaren from Championship side Derby County might not seem like the huge news you’ve got to consider that only last season McClaren turned the side into promotion contenders. On Sunday night the club released a statement suggesting the prominent reason for the sacking was due to a “persistent decline in results, team unity, and morale.”
Ultimately the side weren’t showing the passion and spirit that they were last time which saw them so close to becoming a Premier League side. Currently this season the Rams find themselves 10 points from the play off places in the Championship. It was McClaren’s second spell in charge of the side following the departure of Nigel Pearson but unfortunately in his second spell he wasn’t able to take the club in the direction that he would have hoped. His downfall began from the start really as at the start of the season Derby were always lingering around the relegation zone but come the New Year things appeared to have been turned around due to a seven game win streak and going ten games unbeaten. But rather than being a turn around in their season this proved to be nothing more than a phase of good form as Derby have since slowly drifted away from the play off qualification positions.
Steve McClaren is said to be “exceptionally disappointed to be relieved of his post. His remit when he went into the club was to get them out of trouble and take them to safety which he feels he’s achieved.” Although this probably is true just look at Claudio Ranieri. If you aren’t getting the results the owners want you’re always going to be in trouble as a manager. Ultimately there are a few stats which help you empathise with the Derby County owners. The Championship side have only won one game in their last nine league games with a 3-0 loss at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion being the final straw for McClaren.
The clubs statement read as follows; “”Derby County has parted company with manager Steve McClaren with immediate effect. McClaren, 55, returned to the club in October last year and was handed the challenge of getting the 2016/17 season back on track after a disappointing start to the campaign.
This was a task which was achieved swiftly and decisively, resulting in the team reaching sixth place in the table towards the latter part of 2016 after finding itself towards the relegation zone only a few months previously.
However, since the turn of the year we have experienced a significant, unexpected and persistent decline in results, team unity and morale. Our form over the last 10 games would place us above the relegation group by goal difference alone.”
In my opinion it’s clear that the owners are sacking Steve McClaren with a heavy heart given all the good he’s done for the club. However for one reason or another with things not working the owners saw no option but to change the manager in order to try and get the club back on track to meet their aspirations. The owners have in recent years made it very clear that they really desire to be back in the Premier League and so setting their long term goal on a sustainable place in the Premier League. Something they certainly won’t be achieving with one win in nine in the Championship.
It’s always sad to see a manager lose their job but ultimately in soccer if you’re not good enough you’re going to fall very quickly.
