Derby County have ruled out allowing manager Steve McClaren to leave the club.
Former England manager McClaren has been linked with Premier League posts. He has led Derby into Championship promotion contention this season and Derby have vowed he will not be moving on.
Club chief executive Sam Rush said: “There is no question whatsoever of him leaving.
“He is one of the highest-performing managers in English football, so he is going to be linked and admired by others. But we have had no approaches.”
Stevens sad to see young Kimmich go
Stuttgart coach Huub Stevens has expressed a mixture of regret and understanding at his club’s decision to sell 19-year-old Joshua Kimmich to Bayern Munich next summer.
Kimmich will move to Bayern for a reported seven million euros, even though he has yet to make his debut for Stuttgart. Stevens said the move was inevitable.
“You’ve got to see all the things that go on around the player – he wants the best, his agent wants the best and his parents want the best and so, when Bayern Munich come along, it becomes very difficult to say no,” Stevens said.
“But of course, the managerial staff are sad about it. I would have loved to work with him.”
Mourinho convinced Hazard will stay
Jose Mourinho has no concerns Eden Hazard could seek to evade the heavy tackles of the Premier League by moving abroad.
The 23-year-old, who is in his third season at Chelsea, is in advanced discussions over a contract extension which Mourinho expects to be a formality.
“I think he loves it here. I think so,” Mourinho said.
“I think, I hope (he will stay).”
Mourinho last season often bemoaned the frequency of fouls on Hazard and has again repeated his complaint, calling on officials to protect his prized asset by punishing persistent offenders.
Pressure on Pearce
Stuart Pearce looks to be coming under increasing pressure as manager of N. Forest after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by third tier Rochdale.
Pearce noted last week that it was only his esteemed status in 12 years as one of the club’s playing heroes that was shielding him from criticism.
His position, however, seems increasingly vulnerable with the Championship team now on a winless seven-game streak.
“We’ve once again gifted the opposition a very, very soft goal,” Pearce told reporters.
“That decision-making under pressure has cost us. They’re showing enough endeavour but if you make elementary mistakes in your own box it’s going to be costly.”
Cerci can help Milan ‘trim’ gap
New Milan signing Alessio Cerci has been half-jokingly ordered to shave off his scruffy beard by owner Silvio Berlusconi.
Cerci will officially join Milan on loan from Atletico Madrid as part of the swap deal with Fernando Torres when the Italian transfer window opens today. He trained with the seventh-placed Serie A side on Saturday.
“We have been following Cerci for three years. Finally he has arrived and he has already promised me he will cut off his beard for his first match,” Berlusconi said.
“This year we have two objectives as you know, third place in the championship and we also have our sights set on the Coppa Italia.”
Carver to apply for Newcastle job
John Carver declared his interest in taking the reins at Newcastle United on a permanent basis following their 1-0 FA Cup third-round exit at Leicester City on Saturday.
Carver has been in charge of Newcastle team affairs as caretaker for two matches while Alan Pardew’s move to fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace was being sorted out.
Only after Pardew’s deal went through on Saturday did Carver feel able to go public with his own ambitions, explaining that he now wants to take charge permanently.
“I am going to throw my hat into the ring,” Carver said.
“It was difficult to say how you feel, but obviously deep down inside I want to be head coach of this football club. I would be a fool if I didn’t want the job.”
Friendly off over recording dispute
A disagreement over the recording of a pre-Asian Cup friendly between the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait led to a last-minute cancellation of the match on Saturday, robbing both teams of vital match practice before the Jan. 9-31 tournament.
The players were in the tunnel ahead of the game on the Gold Coast but it was called off after the UAE refused to agree to Kuwait’s request to record the match.
The UAE FA said both sides had previously agreed to play the friendly behind closed doors without recording, broadcasting and the presence of the media or public.
Kuwait, who play Australia in the tournament opener at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium on Jan. 9, opted to host a training session at the ground instead.