Derby County to miss out on promotion yet again?

Derby County are one of those teams that in recent years always seem to flirt with promotion via the play offs, but never manage to pull it off. Despite finishing in the play offs twice in the previous three seasons, they have failed to make it to the Premier League, and it looks like those hopes of a long awaited return to the Premier League will have to wait for a least one more season.

Yesterday Derby relieved Steve McClaren of his managerial duties once again, after a run of terrible results, picking up just six points from their last nine games. Notably poor results are the 4-3 home loss to Cardiff city and a 3-3 draw with Bristol City, both of whom were far worse off in the table at the time. Mathematically it is not impossible for Derby to still make the play offs, but these results have reduced their chances of doing this significantly. As always, when a team is doing poorly the manager gets the stick. We have seen already this season a number of harsh managerial dismissals, none more harsh than the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, but in the case of Derby, i think this was absolutely the right decision.

Steve McClaren hardly has a impressive track record. Despite doing well with Derby during his first spell in charge of them, his next managerial stint with Newcastle was nothing short of disastrous. McClaren lost 18 of his 31 games in charge of the Magpies, winning just 7. While not the manager when they were officially relegated, he played a major role in what happened, and proved he is not ready for a job in the Premier League. Clearly those in charge of Derby feel the same, not giving him to opportunity to see the season out and start again next campaign. This is hardly surprising, seeing as they looked odds on favorites to make the play offs this year, but now that dream is in tatters.

For me McClaren had to go and i feel many Rams fans feel the same. Gary Rowett now looks like the favorite to take over until at least the end of the season. Along with him comes Kevin Summerfield, who worked as Rowett's assistant at Burton Albion and Birmingham. Yet another frustrating year for those involved at Derby County.