McClaren agrees new Derby deal

Derby County head coach Steve McClaren has agreed a new deal that will keep him under contract with the Championship club until 2017.

The former England coach arrived at the iPro Stadium in September last year and helped the club reach the play-off final following a third-place finish.

Derby’s haul of 85 points is a club record and the hierarchy have moved to keep hold of the men responsible for delivering such an excellent season, with first-team coach Paul Simpson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele also handed fresh terms.

McClaren is eager to banish memories of May’s Wembley heartbreak, when Bobby Zamora struck late on to hand QPR a scarcely deserved victory.

“Derby County is a club that is close to all our hearts and we’re all delighted to commit our futures to what continues to be an exciting project,” he told Derby’s official website.

“The fans have bought into what we’re trying to achieve and their backing has been nothing short of magnificent.

“The club is continuing to grow and we’re all happy to be part of it; the future is exciting for Derby County.

“Last season ended in heartbreaking fashion but we all have our focus on the future now and there’s a real excitement for the season ahead.”

McClaren has a long association with Derby, having featured as a player between 1985 and 1988 before serving as Jim Smith’s assistant in the mid-1990s.