Wolves boss: Steve McClaren may suit job, says Peter Withe

Former England manager Steve McClaren could be the right man for the managerial vacancy at Molineux, says ex-Wolves striker Peter Withe.

McClaren, out of work since ending his second spell as boss of Dutch side FC Twente in February, has been linked with Wolves' new head coach role.

"He's got good coaching skills and good managerial skills," Withe told BBC WM.

"Any manager would want to take that job at this moment in time. They're at rock bottom. You can only go one way."

Appointing a third former England manager at Molineux might have an element of risk about it as Graham Taylor and Glenn Hoddle both lasted little more than 19 months.

And Wolves will be wary of the public outcry that followed McClaren being linked with the Aston Villa job in 2011, prior to Alex McLeish being appointed, and again at Nottingham Forest, where he lasted just 122 days.

But, having listened to the fans' opposition when they were on the brink of appointing Steve Bruce to succeed Mick McCarthy in February 2012, the board have since witnessed Bruce's Hull City side win promotion to the Premier League on the day Wolves' relegation to League One was confirmed.

McClaren successfully managed Middlesbrough in the Premier League for five years, prior to having his reputation sullied by 16 months in the England job in 2007.

After his first trophy-winning stay at FC Twente, followed by a less happy time in Germany at Wolfsburg, McClaren then returned to English football in 2011 in the Championship at Forest.

And taking over now at relegated Wolves would mean him dropping down to the third tier of English football for the first time since his playing days.

But Withe insists: "I don't think he's worried about going to that level.

"It's a great challenge to someone.

"The reason Steve McClaren has been linked with this job is that it's a great opportunity to get back into football and prove to people how wrong they've been."

The former Hull City, Bristol City and Oxford United midfielder began his coaching career with Oxford and Derby County under Jim Smith before moving on to replace Brian Kidd as number two at Manchester United in early 1999, midway through their treble-winning season.

His part in the Red Devils' continued success led to him earning his first managerial position with Middlesbrough in 2001.

McClaren's Boro won the League Cup in 2004, their first major trophy and he also led the Teesiders to the Uefa Cup final in 2006 before succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson as England boss.

After an unsuccessful spell in charge, he was sacked after England failed to reach the 2008 European Championship following a mediocre qualifying campaign, culminating in a 3-2 defeat by Croatia on a wet night at Wembley.

McClaren then bounced back, leading Twente to their first domestic league title in 2010, before quitting to join German side Wolfsburg.

He was sacked in February 2011 and moved to Nottingham Forest before resigning in October after 122 days. And a second spell back in charge at Twente ended after 13 months.