West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady has suggested that she is not surprised by Nigel Pearson’s Derby County exit but raises doubts over the re-appointment of Steve McClaren in her The Sun column.
Pearson’s reign as Derby manager lasted just nine Championship games, where only one win and six goals scored caused plenty of speculation over his future and an ensuing suspension from first-team activities.
The former Leicester City boss ultimately left the club via mutual consent, after reports of a reported bust-up with owner Mel Morris had surfaced the net (The Sun) among other rumours.
“It has often been Pearson’s way — and it took him no time to fall out with Rams owner Mel Morris,” Brady wrote in her column for The Sun.
“Former centre-half Pearson has to learn to get on with his next boss or find a different type of work. Perhaps he should check with Vinnie Jones.”
Derby manager Steve McClaren during the press conference
With Pearson gone, many expected caretaker boss Chris Powell to resume first-team duties until the end of the season yet in a surprise twist former Derby boss McClaren was re-appointed at the iPro Stadium.
McClaren was sacked by Derby after missing out on promotion in the 2014-15 campaign, and he then took over Newcastle United only to be dismissed some nine months later with the club heading for relegation.
It was a risk for Derby to bring him back again, and Brady feels it could turn out to be the wrong choice.
She added: “He may be a charming kind of chap but Rams supporters might have the feeling that the former England manager (Steve McClaren) will be reaching for his brolly quite shortly.”