Steve McClaren: Alan Shearer mocks Derby County's appointment of former Newcastle United manager

The Championship strugglers parted with Nigel Pearson after a bust-up with chairman Mel Morris

Steve McClaren looks dejected on the St James' Park side-lines after one of many defeats (Getty)

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has mocked the decision by Derby County to reappoint Steve McClaren just 16 months after sacking the former England manager.

The Championship strugglers parted with Nigel Pearson after a bust-up with chairman Mel Morris, prompting the millionaire to retrace his steps and approach McClaren about the vacancy.

McClaren, 55, was dismissed by Newcastle in March after proving incapable of halting their slide towards relegation and Morris, who has previously likened his impact at the iPro to that of Eddie Howe’s at Bournemouth, moved quickly to secure his return.

Shearer, however, didn’t hold back when he posted on Twitter on Wednesday evening: “Club 1 sacked for not getting promoted. Club 2 sacked as getting relegated. Club 1 re-hire sacked manager. Really?! Only in football.”

Robbie Savage, who played for the two-time English champions, also took aim at his former employers, branding McClaren’s first spell in the East Midlands as a “failure”.

Savage tweeted: “What's going on at my old club Derby County. 4th permanent manager of the year, now appoint McClaren who has failed twice in trying to get the club promoted and then struggled in the Premier League with Newcastle.”

Shearer criticises Derby on Twitter:

Speaking after news of his Derby return was confirmed, McClaren told the club’s official website he plans on “getting things right” this time around. The Rams are languishing in 20th in the table with just two wins in 11 matches, four points above the bottom.

McClaren said: “I am excited to be back at Derby County. I have a great affiliation with this club, having been here on three previous occasions, and I am really delighted at the prospect of finishing what we started back in September 2013.

Pearson last just four months at Derby (Getty)

“I regret how my time at Derby ended back in 2015 and I am very motivated to get things right for the club and our supporters. My ultimate aspiration remains exactly what it was before, to take Derby County back to the Premier League.”