Sunday 20 September 2015 14:07, UK
Nigel Pearson admits his Leicester sacking in the summer still does not sit easy after guiding the Foxes to survival.
Pearson was in charge of Leicester for two spells, from 2008 to 2010 and 2011 to 2015, earning them two promotions in those periods.
Leicester won nine of their last 11 games under Pearson, but he was replaced by Claudio Ranieri earlier this summer. They have picked up where they left off, winning three and drawing three of their first six Premier League games.
Pearson told Goals on Sunday: "I was surprised and disappointed not to be able to take the club further. These things unfortunately happen. It has been a difficult summer in many respects.
"I can look back on my two spells at Leicester and take a lot of satisfaction that we've managed to build a football club which was not in a great shape if I'm honest.
"It is time for me to look forward and not dwell too much, but it doesn't sit easy with me certainly.
"It makes it more difficult when you are somebody who builds a side."
Pearson endured a seemingly tough season at times off the pitch, with a series of run-ins with journalists leaving him open to criticism from the press.
But the former Middlesbrough defender insists there were more good experiences than bad, and that those incidents created a positive siege mentality within the club.
"I found it very enjoyable last season in some ways. All in all, there were more good experiences than bad.
"It became a mini season at the end. We developed a bit of a siege mentality as well. One or two things had happened to me, and I had been in some situations that helped build that siege mentality.
"We had a group of people who were very much together. You can't get anywhere with just character, and the same with just ability. You have to combine the two."
