Norwich bid for Worthington rejected by Northern Ireland

January 15, 2009

BELFAST (AFP) – Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington will not be rejoining Norwich City as manager after the Irish Football Association (IFA) on Thursday refused any bid from the struggling Championship club.

Glenn Roeder was axed as the Canaries manager on Wednesday and Norwich have now failed in their bid to open talks with Worthington as they attempted to make a quick appointment.

A statement on the IFA’s official website, www.irishfa.com, read: "Nigel is currently making preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and is fully focused and committed to his job as the Northern Ireland international manager."

Worthington told the BBC: "I am happy to focus on a job I am enjoying.

"I spoke to the president about the situation and we are both happy that it was in the best interests of the association and myself that any offer from Norwich be rejected.

"I had a successful time at Norwich although the last six months were a bit hairy when tough times hit. I have done the Norwich job and have now moved on and I am really enjoying my role with Northern Ireland."

Norwich are just one place off the relegation zone in the Championship, the second tier of English league football, and were knocked out of the FA Cup in midweek.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, appointment, bbc, belfast, FA Cup, football, glenn roeder, ifa, irish football association, league football, midweek, Nigel, nigel worthington, Northern Ireland, Norwich, norwich city, quot, relegation zone, six months, tough times, website www, World Cup, world cup qualifiers

Clough in frame for Derby role

January 6, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Nigel Clough could become the new manager of Derby County – the club his father Brian transformed into the champions of England more than 35 years ago – in just a "matter of days".Adam Pearson, Derby’s chairman of football, told reporters in a conference call on Monday: "Nigel is one of the names in the frame… we’ve spoken to his chairman and everything seems positive."Derby, now just above the relegation zone in the second-tier Championship, are presently without a full-time manager after Paul Jewell resigned last week following an unsuccessful 13-month spell in charge which saw the club relegated from the lucrative Premier League.But the club’s American owners are determined to take the Midlands side back to the top-flight.And Derby fans will have a fresh taste of the big-time when their side plays English, European and world champions Manchester United at Pride Park on Wednesday in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final.Since retiring as a player Nigel Clough, a former England midfielder, has built a reputation as a manager in non-league football with Derby’s near neighbours Burton Albion, where he has been in charge for over a decade."There is obviously a connection with his father but, more importantly he ticks the boxes on a number of other attributes," Pearson said of Clough."We are looking for a manager who can develop, coach and build the confidence of what we believe to be a good squad of players. Nigel has that manner, he is firm and fair, considerate and intelligent and confident."Is it a done deal? No, it’s not," Pearson stressed. "There are other young, upcoming managers also in the frame who have similar attributes. We are looking for that type of manager."We haven’t had a formal discussion with Nigel but the appointment of a permanent manager is literally days away."Nigel is very much in the frame. I’ve known him a very long time and he has the right attributes and the right skills. We’ve spoken to his chairman about the possibility and everything seems positive."But there are also one or two others, which we are keeping under wraps, who we are also having close discussions with. But it would be foolhardy not to admit my interest in Nigel."Clough, 42, grew up in Derby when his father was County’s manager.Brian Clough turned a team languishing in the old Second Division when he became Derby manager in 1967 into First Division champions at the end of the 1971/72 season.However, in 1973, he resigned following a power struggle with Derby chairman Sam Longson.

Written by: AFP

Tags: 35 years, Adam Pearson, attributes, big time, brian clough, burton albion, conference call, derby county, derby fans, discussion, Division, England, English, English Championship, league football, london, Manchester, manchester united, manner, midfielder, neighbours, Nigel, nigel clough, Paul Jewell, pearson, premier league, pride park, relegation zone, Sam, time manager, top flight, world champions

Clough in frame for Derby role

January 5, 2009

Adam Pearson, Derbys chairman of football, told reporters in a conference call on Monday: "Nigel is one of the names in the frame… weve spoken to his chairman and everything seems positive."

Derby, now just above the relegation zone in the second-tier Championship, are presently without a full-time manager after Paul Jewell resigned last week following an unsuccessful 13-month spell in charge which saw the club relegated from the lucrative Premier League.

But the clubs American owners are determined to take the Midlands side back to the top-flight.

And Derby fans will have a fresh taste of the big-time when their side plays English, European and world champions Manchester United at Pride Park on Wednesday in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final.

Since retiring as a player Nigel Clough, a former England midfielder, has built a reputation as a manager in non-league football with Derbys near neighbours Burton Albion, where he has been in charge for over a decade.

"There is obviously a connection with his father but, more importantly he ticks the boxes on a number of other attributes," Pearson said of Clough.

"We are looking for a manager who can develop, coach and build the confidence of what we believe to be a good squad of players. Nigel has that manner, he is firm and fair, considerate and intelligent and confident.

"Is it a done deal? No, its not," Pearson stressed. "There are other young, upcoming managers also in the frame who have similar attributes. We are looking for that type of manager.

"We havent had a formal discussion with Nigel but the appointment of a permanent manager is literally days away.

"Nigel is very much in the frame. Ive known him a very long time and he has the right attributes and the right skills. Weve spoken to his chairman about the possibility and everything seems positive.

"But there are also one or two others, which we are keeping under wraps, who we are also having close discussions with. But it would be foolhardy not to admit my interest in Nigel."

Clough, 42, grew up in Derby when his father was Countys manager.

Brian Clough turned a team languishing in the old Second Division when he became Derby manager in 1967 into First Division champions at the end of the 1971/72 season.

However, in 1973, he resigned following a power struggle with Derby chairman Sam Longson.

Written by: AFP