Nigel Clough set to return as Burton Albion manager

Nigel Clough's last game as a manager was Sheffield United's 5-5 draw at Swindon in the League One play-offs

Nigel Clough is set to return to Burton Albion as manager, almost seven years after leaving the club.

The 49-year-old will replace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who left the Brewers on Friday to take over at Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

Clough was first appointed as Burton player-boss in October 1998 at the age of 32, his first managerial role.

And he now takes over a side who are two points clear at the top of League One.

BBC Sport understands Clough has been lured back to the Pirelli Stadium due to the strong bond he has with Albion chairman Ben Robinson, with his appointment set to be confirmed over the weekend.

The son of former Derby County and Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough, he guided Burton from the Southern Premier League to the top of the Conference before leaving to take over the Rams in January 2009.

He laid the foundations for the Burton side which would win the Conference title that season, gaining promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history.

Clough spent more than three and a half years at Derby, but 10th place was the club's best finish under him in his final full season in charge.

He was sacked in September 2013 after a 1-0 loss to fierce rivals Forest left the Rams 14th in the Championship after nine games.

Less than a month later he was back in football as manager of League One Sheffield United, guiding them away from the relegation zone and to an FA Cup semi-final against Hull City at Wembley.

The following season he led the Blades to the semi-finals of the League Cup, losing to Tottenham over two legs, but was sacked in May 2015 after the Blades were knocked out of the League One play-offs by Swindon Town after a 5-5 draw in the second leg of their semi-final.

Nigel Clough in action for Burton in 1999 during his spell as player-boss