Steve McClaren believes he is being forced out of Derby because of Newcastle’s interest in him.

The Press Association understands the former England manager was asked to resign when he met the chief executive, Sam Rush, and incoming chairman, Mel Morris, on Thursday amid suggestions that Newcastle’s approach to him in January had adversely affected Derby, who went on to miss out on promotion to the Premier League.

However, it is understood McClaren refused to quit and told the club they would have to sack him if they wanted him out.

Sources close to the 54-year-old have revealed he is aggrieved at the suggestion that the approach from Newcastle – which was made to his agent and swiftly rejected as he committed himself to Derby’s bid to reach the top flight after missing out in last season’s play-off final – was a contributory factor in the club’s slump as the campaign drew to a close.

Derby won only two of their last 13 league games as injuries took their toll and slipped from the thick of the race for automatic promotion to eventually finish eighth, a point shy of a play-off place.

Reports started to circulate on Thursday evening that McClaren had been sacked, sparking speculation over possible successors, with the Real Madrid No2 Paul Clement and Burnley’s Sean Dyche mentioned in despatches.

Newcastle turned to McClaren, who has moved his family to the East Midlands, in January after Alan Pardew’s surprise departure for Crystal Palace, but he opted to stay where he was to continue with a five-year plan.

Newcastle are understood to have made a second, more tentative approach after the end of the Championship season with the club’s Premier League status in real jeopardy following a run of eight successive defeats, but the answer was much the same.

Whether or not his stance means the question will not be asked for a third time remains to be seen, but there has been no further contact with the hierarchy at St James’ Park in recent days.

McClaren’s future is likely to be decided over the weekend, although with both sides seemingly entrenched, there is work to be done to find a solution.