“Platt is a disaster,” said Clough, who was one of the most successful managers of his generation but was constantly overlooked for the England job he craved so much.

“If they had gone through the records, although they don’t always tell the whole tale, [they would have seen] David was only interested in one thing - David Platt.

“When I come back (in another life) I am definitely coming back as a failure in management.

“The only way to get a job with the Football Association is failing in management. You can get to be the manager of England – which is what I always wanted.”

There were also had some harsh words for ex-Derby manager Jim Smith, now assistant boss to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth.

Clough guided Derby to the Division One championship in 1972 but the club’s stock has fallen since then and, following relegation from the top flight last season, the Pride Park outfit now have financial problems.

Smith departed Derby a year ago after his gamble in agreeing to stump up the massive wages of former Italy striker Fabrizio Ravanelli failed to spark the team into life – a decision which came under fire from the straight-talking Clough.

“Jim, in his latter years, spent a fortune on players who did not perform - we have all done it,” Clough told Radio Five Live.

“Money doesn’t guarantee success. He was given money, he didn’t know how to handle it, he bought bad players, the club went down and and down and found themselves millions of pounds in debt.”