Former Derby County boss Paul Warne rejects controversial League Two manager job

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Paul Warne took the Derby County job back in September 2022 and guided the Rams to promotion at the second attempt from League One.

However, in February of this year, Warne was relieved of his duties, having lost his last seven games in a row, with Derby sat in 22nd place and two points from safety. Blackburn Rovers’ John Eustace was his eventual replacement a week later.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
17	PortsmouthPortsmouth	41	12	9	20	48	64	-16	45
18	Oxford UnitedOxford United	41	11	12	18	42	60	-18	45
19	Hull CityHull City	41	11	11	19	40	49	-9	44
20	Stoke CityStoke City	41	10	14	17	42	54	-12	44
21	DerbyDerby	41	11	9	21	42	52	-10	42
22	CardiffCardiff	41	9	15	17	45	65	-20	42
23	LutonLuton	41	10	10	21	37	62	-25	40
24	PlymouthPlymouth	41	8	13	20	42	81	-39	37

Eustace has already made plenty of changes to boost their survival hopes, with Derby County hovering just outside of relegation places ahead of the final five-game run-in.

Some have even described the Rams’ turnaround as a ‘miracle’, although Eustace has been quick to shut down the noise, with numerous vital games still left to play. The stats suggest a huge improvement of late, with Derby having won four on the bounce recently to ease their relegation fears.

• READ MORE: Derby County star just landed himself an awful Championship record, and it happened in the cruellest possible way

Paul Warne rejects MK Dons role in League Two

We recently had a stab at predicting the points total required for survival in the Championship, but it’s fair to say Derby and David Clowes can feel vindicated in their decision to appoint Eustace over Warne.

Warne has vast experience of the EFL, particularly in League One. However, he has only managed two clubs so far: Derby and Rotherham United.

Since his sacking in February, Warne is yet to take up a new coaching role. He has, however, rejected an approach from MK Dons in League Two. That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Dons are one of the EFL’s most controversial clubs after the near bankruptcy of Wimbledon FC. Many neutrals are frustrated to this day that the newly formed Milton Keynes claimed their history, silverware, and the term “Dons”.

Both Mike Williamson and Scott Lindsey have held the managerial role this season, with MK Dons in search of their third permanent manager of the campaign. They are currently 19th ahead of today’s League Two fixtures.

However, since the turn of the year, no one has accrued fewer points in the fourth tier. They have 15 from 20 games, which is less than Carlisle United, Gillingham, and Morecambe in fewer matches.

• READ MORE: Leeds United promoted and Derby County relegated as supercomputer decides final Championship table

Paul Warne’s managerial record and statistics

It’s entirely plausible that Warne is holding out for a job at a higher level than the bottom half of League Two, which he is right to do given his CV and pedigree in the third tier in particular.

Warne is also a manager with excellent man management skills, and he is likely to be the subject of plenty of interest from League One sides looking to move in a fresh direction this summer.

As for MK Dons, they are a club in need of a new manager and perhaps a change of identity after the issues with Williamson and Lindsey earlier in the campaign.