Challenge of Blades lured boss Clough to Sheffield

SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Nigel Clough has set his sights on providing a lasting managerial fix at Bramall Lane – after becoming the club’s eighth permanent boss in the past six-and-a-half years.
Nigel Clough. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyNigel Clough. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Nigel Clough. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

The former Derby County chief, 47, back in management just 25 days after being dramatically sacked by the Rams, admits the massive potential of the Blades was the persuasive factor in his decision to make a quick-fire return.

After his exit from Pride Park, Clough had originally been intending to take a decent break following the best part of 15 years in management, only for the Blades to move decisively and tempt him back into the dug-out.

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Clough, who has signed a two-and-a-half year deal, is conscious he could have waited for an opportunity higher up in the Championship, where he enjoyed four-and-a-half seasons of progress operating with minimal funds at Derby, bringing through a host of promising young players such as Will Hughes, Jeff Hendrick and Mason Bennett.

Nigel Clough. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyNigel Clough. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Nigel Clough. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

The former England international was mentioned among the early contenders for the job at Middlesbrough – his late father Brian’s hometown side and the club where he broke all sorts of goalscoring records – following the dismissal of Tony Mowbray.

But Clough is more than happy to take up the challenge of resurrecting the Blades, currently stuck at the wrong end of the League One table after winning just one of their opening 10 league games under his predecessor David Weir.

On joining the Blades and potentially passing up future Championship interest, Clough – who admits to a sense of bitterness at his recent exit from Derby – said: “There was always that opportunity. But I don’t think you can pick and choose in football. I know that jobs (at clubs) come up in the Championship on average every two years. But are they going to be better than this one and better clubs than this one and better people to work with. They wanted me so much and that was a big part of it.

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“The potential was the biggest factor. They and Derby are similar sized clubs. The academy wasn’t working at Derby five years ago and it is here to a better degree.

“The infrastructure and everything is here. But the fanbase is the biggest thing; you can’t go anywhere without that, really.

“When you have been here over the years playing and managing, you go away with the same feeling that it’s a proper football club with the supporters, stadium and everything that goes with it.

“The first priority is going to be to stabilise and pull us away from the bottom of the table.

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“Then I want to build the team, so it is capable of challenging for promotion.

“The ultimate aim has to be to get this club back into the Premier League.”

Clough will be assisted by Gary Crosby and Andy Garner, part of his coaching team at Derby with his brother Simon joining the scouting structure.

Chris Morgan – praised by the new Blades boss for his work as caretaker – is also part of the new-look coaching team.

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Commenting on his hopes of being around in the long-term, Clough added: “Hopefully, I will get that opportunity. Because when you have had six managers in eight years, I think owners and chairman have got to recognise that the best clubs are the most stable ones and the ones who get success. (But) We are not miracle workers and it doesn’t happen overnight.

“I spent 11 years at Burton and we got one – and nearly two – promotions and built the club there. A club was there at Derby, but it was about building playing staff and going forward.

“You have got to be seen to be making progress. I thought we did that every year apart from one at Burton and at Derby where each year the squad was improving – with the performances on the pitch and asset value of the squad.”

Clough is the first to admit that his desire to do well with the Blades is part-fuelled by his recent experiences at Derby, which left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.

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Clough, whose first game in charge is at home to Crewe on Saturday, said: “It was fairly shocking.

“To be honest, I still don’t think I’m over it but getting this job is going to help in that way.

“I didn’t have too much of an inkling about it. All the noises were quite positive about the job me and my staff had done, then – all of a sudden – we were told it wasn’t good enough.

“It was hurtful and I could have wallowed for six months, waiting for a so-called big job to come up, but I thought the best thing to do after being knocked down that way was to get straight back up again.

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“I will use what happened to me at Derby as a motivation here at Sheffield United.

“There’s a lingering bitterness, there are certainly feelings that are still there, but I’ll try to keep them buried for as long as I can.”

List of managers down at the Lane

David Weir2013

Danny Wilson2011-2013

Micky Adams2010-2011

Gary Speed2010

Kevin Blackwell2008-2010

Bryan Robson2007-2008

Neil Warnock1999-2007