Thursday 23 April 2015 20:40, UK
Manager Steve McClaren says speculation linking him with Newcastle is "disrespectful" and that he is committed to getting Derby promoted.
The former England boss admitted there had been interest in him from the Magpies around the turn of the year, when Alan Pardew left as manager to take over at Crystal Palace.
But with John Carver since appointed, the Rams head coach is reluctant to discuss the continuing reports.
McClaren and Carver are thought to be on Newcastle's short list for the head coach role at St James' Park next season, according to reports in the North East.
At the present moment Newcastle doesn't interest me, I am not thinking about that. I am thinking solely of Derby
It has been suggested that McClaren could leave Derby should, like last season, he fail to get them promoted from the Championship via the play-offs.
Asked if he wanted to be in charge at the iPro Stadium at the start of the 2015/16 campaign, McClaren said: "I am contracted to Derby County, so yes.
"I have got a contract here for the next two years after this and I hope to honour that contract. But it is football, that might change, who knows. But at the present moment I am the Derby County head coach and will remain so until things change.
"So, let's get on with the job. My goal is to get in the play-offs and do as well as we can."
On the reports linking him with Newcastle, McClaren added: "I haven't got a clue if I'm a candidate for the Newcastle job.
"I think there was no secret that there was an interest in December and January. We talked about that and in the end they didn't have a manager then. What they did was appoint a manager [John Carver] and that is what they have got, and he is fighting for the job.
"While somebody is in a job it is a little bit disrespectful. It's disrespectful to John Carver, to Newcastle, my focus is purely on Derby.
"But this is newspapers and this is what they do, they speculate. At the present moment Newcastle doesn't interest me, I am not thinking about that. I am thinking solely of Derby."
With two games remaining, victory at relegation-threatened Millwall will guarantee Derby a play-off spot.
