Pearson - Clough the right man

Rams chairman feels it is time to head in a different direction

Last updated: 6th January 2009

Pearson - Clough the right man

Clough: Right man for the job

Related links

Teams

Also see

Adam Pearson insists Derby County have not made a 'sentimental' appointment in naming Nigel Clough as the club's new manager.

Clough has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract at Pride Park to replace Paul Jewell and bring to an end a decade in charge of Burton Albion.

The 42-year-old follows in the footsteps of his father Brian, who won the old First Division title during his time as Rams boss in the early 1970s.

But Derby chairman Pearson is confident that Clough jnr is the right man for the job despite his lack of managerial experience in the Football League.

Legacy

"It is a good story," Pearson told Sky Sports News, "but we're all aware that goodwill will disappear if we don't win games.

"We wouldn't bring him in if we didn't think Nigel could win games and if he wouldn't be able to improve the squad of players we've got.

"It's definitely not a sentimental appointment. Nigel is his own man in his own right and he wants to create a legacy here.

"He talked to me today about a 10-year dynasty for this football club and we'd obviously all be delighted if Nigel was here in 10 years because we'd have a fine football club."

Pearson also believes it is time for Derby to take a different approach with a new manager and has backed Clough, who officially takes charge on Thursday, to bring an entertaining style of football to the club.

Well rounded

He added: "We do think he brings the right style of football to the club. I think Derby County supporters want football played in a certain way and he's certainly a disciple of that.

"I think his man-management style, and his considered style of management, is probably what this squad of players need."

On whether it is a gamble, Pearson said: "You could look at it that way, but his other attributes to me were more important.

"He's well rounded, he's got good coaching skills and I think he understands the club.

"The way he is as a person, and the way he holds himself, is more important than specific experience at Championship level.

"We've been down that route before. I would have put my mortgage on it working for Paul, so maybe the time is right to move in a different direction."