Steve McClaren'S Rovers Return

Posted Wednesday, May 18, 2011 by Express.co.uk

Steve McClaren'S Rovers Return
ABOVE: Steve McClaren could return to club management in this country

STEVE McCLAREN has been lined up for a shock return to Premier League football at Blackburn.

Starsport understands boss Steve Kean could be sacked by Blackburn’s Indian owners even if he secures Premier League survival this weekend.

And that would leave the road clear for Steve McClaren to return to club management in this country exactly five years after quitting Middlesbrough to become England coach.

McClaren, who turned down the chance to be considered for the West Ham job, has been out of work since being fired by German side Wolfsburg on February 7.

Since then, the 50-year-old has been keeping busy working as a pundit on TV and radio but is desperate to return to frontline management.

Despite his disastrous 18 months in charge of the national side when was mocked as “the wally with the brolly” in the wake of England’s home defeat against Croatia, McClaren has restored his reputation.

He won the Eredivisie title in only his second season at Dutch outfit FC Twente when he became one of the Continent’s most sought-after coaches.

Though his move to Germany did not work out, McClaren has no shortage of admirers in the game.

During his time in charge of Boro, he guided them to a Carling Cup win, their highest-ever Premier League position and then the UEFA Cup final where they lost to Seville.

And it was his success on Teesside which attracted first West Ham and now Blackburn, whose gamble to appoint the untried Kean has backfired.

Kean, 43, was the choice to take over the Rovers reins after Sam Allardyce was sacked last December.

Appointed initially on a caretaker basis until the end of the season, Allardyce’s former coach was made permanent manager in the New Year, with owners Venkys adamant they wanted him at the helm in the long-term.

But Kean has won just five of his 23 games in charge and while Blackburn seem set to stay up even if they lose at Wolves on Sunday, then Venkys look like swinging the axe.

McClaren was the bookies’ early favourite to succeed Avram Grant at Upton Park but on Monday night issued a statement when he said: “at this moment in time, I do not wish to be considered for the position.”

However, if the Blackburn job does become available, it will hold more appeal both for geographical reasons and especially if the club preserve top-flight status.