Steve McClaren is under increasing pressure at Derby County and facing the prospect of being sacked for the second time by the Championship club.

McClaren's future as Rams manager is in the balance after a dreadful run of results, with chairman Mel Morris seriously considering whether to wield the axe.

Morris is said to have been "seething" during and after Derby's 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Friday night and is understood to have discussed the prospect of dismissing McClaren with other board members.

Derby's hopes of securing a play-off place appear forlorn following a run of one victory from the last nine league games and the club are now 25 points behind second-placed Brighton.

McClaren was re-appointed in October last year, 17 months after he was sacked by the Championship club, with Morris scrapping plans to name Chris Powell as head coach for the rest of the season.