Newcastle Manager's First Interviews - Did They Deliver On Their Promises?

Steve McClaren was finally confirmed as Newcastle United's new head coach yesterday on what could potentially be an eight-year deal. And during the former England manager's customary first interview, he said all the right things that will have been sure to endear him to the Toon Army, most of which weren't too enamoured with his appointment. The 54-year-old said: "The key was the statement he made before the West Ham game, where he actually came out with drive and determination and focus, and talked about the objectives and what he wanted to achieve. He did it with such verve and vigour. Everyone was convinced - everyone was rejuvenated."

€œI moved into this area 15 years ago and became manager of Middlesbrough - and then I realised how big a club Newcastle was. €œI always wanted to have this job - always. I€™ve had two or three opportunities, as far back as 2004 when I was at Middlesbrough, meeting Freddy Shepherd. €œBut everything is about timing in football and it wasn€™t the right time in 2004. Then I was at Twente, they got relegated, there was an interest, but unfortunately I was at FC Twente and I€™d only been there for a year. So again, timing, and loyalty to FC Twente to stay on. €œAnd then obviously the well-documented (offer) of January just gone, where again, the timing wasn€™t right. I had a job to do at Derby. €œWe were on course doing that. I€™d only been there just over a year and I felt that the timing wasn€™t right: we were top of the league, going to achieve what we wanted to achieve €“ getting into the Premier League €“ and the job...I wanted to finish it. €œIt wasn€™t a case of turning Newcastle down at all. It was a case of staying loyal to Derby and that€™s what I wanted to do. €œThe objective is top eight, to win a trophy.€

It goes without saying that only time will tell if McClaren's comments are accurate ones. But if former United managers are to go by, then there is more than a slight chance that everything McClaren said yesterday was a pack of lies...