McClaren gutted to miss out on Aston Villa

Steve McClaren has admitted for the first time that missing out on a move to Aston Villa will be a big regret for the former England coach. McClaren stepped down from Nottingham Forest back in October.

McClaren has revealed that the Villains were interested in his services after Gerard Houllier stepped down as Villa boss earlier during the year, but instead Villa signed Alex McLeish.


"That [Villa] was a big disappointment," he told The Independent.


"I didn't do my due diligence [on Forest] well enough. I was disappointed [with the rejection from Villa] and wanted to show people. I thought it was a great opportunity - great club, great fans, great history and tradition.


"Unfortunately I knew very early from going in that we weren't on the same wavelength. I was set to move my family to Nottingham and I stopped that one."