3 Paul Warne replacements Derby County must consider ASAP | OneFootball

Derby County are on the lookout for a new manager after they made the decision to sack Paul Warne.

Derby County have confirmed that they have sacked Paul Warne with the side sitting in the relegation zone in the Championship.

The former Rotherham chief was named as Rams in September 2022, and he brought success to Pride Park, with the team winning promotion from League One in his first full season in charge.

However, their return to the second tier has been tough, and a run of seven successive losses has left Derby 22nd in the table, with the club announcing his departure just over 24 hours before they face Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Derby County begin search for Paul Warne’s successor

The spotlight is now on owner David Clowes, who will have started his search for Warne’s replacement.

Of course, the short-term need is obvious, but Clowes will also want someone who can build on the positive work that Warne has done during his time in charge.

Gary O’Neil

The 41-year-old was sacked by Wolves in December after a turbulent period at Molineux.

O’Neil defied expectation as Wanderers avoided relegation in his first season in charge, but the second campaign was tough, as they leaked goals and struggled for points before his dismissal.

Having previously done well with Bournemouth, O’Neil’s stock remains quite high generally, although it’s hard to see him getting another Premier League job any time soon.

Whether he would consider dropping to a team battling relegation in the second tier remains to be seen, but Derby will have a big pull due to the size of the club, and the potential.

If O’Neil can be convinced of the ambition at Pride Park, he could be the long-term fit they need to push on, whilst he would encourage a more expansive style than seen under Warne.

Rob Edwards

Another relatively young coach, Edwards enjoyed a real rise as a manager after winning promotion with Forest Green.

A short stint at Watford didn’t damage his reputation, which was at an all-time high when he took their bitter rivals Luton Town to the Premier League despite their limited resources.

Even though they were relegated, the Hatters battled admirably in the top-flight, but this season was a real tough one as Luton were struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Naturally, that would cause concern for Derby, but Edwards’ work since becoming a manager suggests he would be a sensible appointment. With Derby looking for immediate results, it’s an added bonus that he knows the league.

Valerien Ismael

Another manager with Championship experience, Ismael’s last involvement in the game came last year with Watford.

Prior to his time at Vicarage Road, he had enjoyed real success with Barnsley, before failing to last the season with West Brom in 2021/22 campaign.

He was sacked by the Baggies with the side sitting fifth in the table, but some fans were unhappy with the style of play.

That could be an issue with Derby, as Warne was criticised for a direct approach, so Clowes would have to consider that before making a decision.

But, ultimately, this squad has been built for a direct approach, so they may suit Ismael, and he will no doubt argue that he will make tweaks that make it easier on the eye.

Therefore, he would be a good fit, and his no-nonsense approach could certainly inspire results over the next few months, which is the only objective for Derby right now.