Steve McClaren: Aston Villa backed out of manager talks with me

Steve McClaren, FC Twente

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Steve McClaren has revealed that he had arranged to hold talks with the Aston Villa hierarchy with regards to the vacant managerial post before the club cancelled the meeting.

McClaren has since been unveiled as the new manager of Championship side Nottingham Forest but has apparently confirmed the suggestions that he had been at the top of Villa owner Randy Lerner’s wishlist.

Lerner is said to have withdrawn his interest after a negative response from the club’s fans.

“There was an approach and an appointment set up that wasn’t fulfilled, but I can’t control that,” the former England boss told BBC Sport.

“You’d have to ask Aston Villa about the reasons for that. At the time it was a disappointment but I’ve had many disappointments in football. I quickly moved on.”

The 50-year-old was one of several candidates being considered by Lerner following Gerard Houllier’s resignation due to health concerns, with Wigan manager Roberto Martinez having already turned down a move to Villa Park.

McClaren’s disastrous period in charge of England, which ended in his sacking in 2007 for failure to qualify for Euro 2008, had caused many Villa fans to protest at his potential appointment.

Those fans have since turned their attentions to registering their outrage at the prospective arrival of Alex McLeish from recently relegated local rivals Birmingham.

Since leaving England, McClaren had moved abroad, first to Dutch side Twente, where he won the club’s first Eredivisie title, but fared worse at Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg, who sacked him in February this year.

And the former Middlesbrough manager is now back on home soil in his new job at the City Ground.

“It’s a great feeling to be here at Nottingham Forest,” McClaren said. “You can smell the history and tradition of this club.

“I don’t feel I have anything to prove after England.

“Before and after England I have been successful and I have come back here for a challenge and for a club with great ambitions in Nottingham Forest.

“I could have waited and tried to seek an opportunity in the Premier League further down the line and I had quite a few offers from abroad but I have come to The City Ground for a new, big challenge.

“This club smacks of history and tradition and now we want to build on that and create a modern culture. There are always big expectations here, not just outside the club but from inside as well. That’s why I’m here.”

McClaren faces the immediate aim of promotion to the Premier League, after Forest suffered their second playoff semi-final defeat in two years last month.