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David James says Steve McClaren must take different job to avoid relegation

8 years ago
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David James says that unless Steve McClaren accepts he has to change roles, he is in real danger of taking Newcastle down.

Having worked alongside the Newcastle boss when he was coaching with England, David James says that he thinks McClaren is a much better coach that a manager.

With Tim Krul out for the season, the one-time England goalkeeper says that Steve McClaren needs to get back to that coaching role and leave the other responsibilities for somebody else.

McClaren coached England from 2000 to 2002 and then was made assistant manager to Sven in 2004 until the end of the World Cup finals in 2006.

David James also credits the Newcastle boss’ coaching as a major factor in Manchester United’s success when McClaren worked under Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

David James speaking to the Express:

“If you looked at Tim Krul as the reason Newcastle haven’t gone down in recent seasons then the answer would lean towards ‘yes’ (relegation for Newcastle this season).

“I think with Steve McClaren, from my experience with England (at same time as manager at Middlesbrough McClaren was a coach for England 200-2002 and assistant manager to Sven 2004-2006), he was one of the best coaches I have ever worked with, he was just so good. It made sense how Manchester United were so good from his time there.

“He went away and was a manager for a few years at Middlesbrough  and then came back (as England Manager) in 2006, and was very different.

“I have not been at Newcastle but the side of him as a manager isn’t as strong as him as a coach.

“If he was to be a coach, more so than manager, he is more than capable of getting Newcastle out of that position and doing well and then the necessity of the goalkeeper being top drawer is lessened because the team are performing much better.”

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