Newcastle United will make a fresh approach to appoint Steve McClaren as their new manager in the summer, having failed to lure him in January.
The Magpies agreed to release Alan Pardew from his contract at St James’ Park in the New Year, when his former club Crystal Palace turned to him to replace the sacked Neil Warnock. In doing so they agreed to pay almost 4million in compensation to Newcastle, who then immediately made former England head coach McClaren their top target to lead first team affairs.
McClaren is currently in charge of Derby County in the Championship, and he claimed last week that he turned down an approach from Mike Ashley in January, although it is uncertain how firm this offer would have been. The Independent, though, believe another approach for the 53-year-old will be made at the end of what has been another miserable season for the club.
Upon the failure to land a permanent replacement for Pardew the North East giants placed his assistant John Carver in charge, but this has not been a success. Newcastle have won just two of the 15 matches since they promoted him, and although it is assumed they are safe from relegation, it wouldn’t take much for that situation to change even at this stage of the season.
As for McClaren and Derby, their bid for automatic promotion to the top-flight was dealt a huge blow when they lost four times in the space of six February and March games. Such a target is no longer achievable, but they can secure a playoff place if they win one of their remaining two fixtures, starting with a potentially tricky trip to relegation threatened Millwall.
Is Steve McClaren the man who can finally breathe some life into Newcastle United, or can that only truly happen when Mike Ashley leaves the club?
