New Derby County manager Steve McClaren has admitted that the club had "every right" to sack him during his first spell as boss 17 months ago.
McClaren's time at the iPro Stadium came to a disappointing end when a run of just two wins in the final 13 Championship games of the season saw the Rams slump from automatic promotion contenders to missing the playoffs entirely.
The 55-year-old was strongly linked with the Newcastle United job during that time - a position he eventually took over - but he now acknowledges that he was wrong not to quash the speculation early.
"I never thought this would happen. The club had every right to sack me. It was my fault. The circumstances weren't ideal and the situation could have been avoided - and that's my fault. I should have quashed the rumours and the speculation. I just failed at the time to dampen everything, the focus should have been on one thing and it was speculation and rumour. I needed to focus on the job. And when I committed it was too late and then I had to accept that," he told reporters.
"Football is a strange game and sometimes crazy. I'm delighted we thrashed it all out and can work together again. I've always kept in touch with [chief executive and president Sam Rush] and other people at the club. I think there was a willingness to work together again and a meeting was called, which myself, Sam, Mel and [assistant manager Chris Powell] all attended.
"There was a lot of honesty and a lot of things said in that room, which will remain private. There was a certain amount of healing but it was mainly about how can we take this club forward. I have a great affinity with this club, it's like no other to me. I was a player and then an assistant. Baseball Ground to Pride Park. I came back as manager and now I'm here again. My kids were born here in Derby. There's an affinity and we thrashed things out in the meeting and we are all working together."
McClaren's first match since returning to the club will come against Leeds United on Saturday.
Barney Corkhill
