Paul Jewell claims he decided against a big-money return to Wigan earlier this season because he has 'honesty and pride'.
Rams boss wanted new challenge
Derby manager Paul Jewell claims he decided against a big-money return to Wigan earlier this season because he has 'honesty and pride'.
Jewell left Wigan at the end of last season when his side beat relegation rivals Sheffield United in their final game to escape the drop, but he was given the opportunity to return to the JJB Stadium when Chris Hutchings was sacked in November.
However, although he admits he was 'tempted', Jewell says that he had taken the club as far as he could and would have only been doing it for the money.
"I was tempted, because I've a lot of affinity for Wigan," he said.
"I certainly feel I could have kept them up, because Chris had made some good signings. Right now, I feel they're the best team in the bottom six, with the best individual players.
"I have to admit a lot of money was offered, but I had given my word six months ago that I had taken the club as far as I could."
He added: "For me to go back for the money would have been the totally wrong thing to do.
"I always ask players for commitment. Yeah, money is important in life - but I've honesty and pride.
"The world of football is full of people who do one thing and say another, and I didn't want to be one of them.
"So for me to have gone back six months later, it wouldn't have been for the right reasons, and it wouldn't have been right for Wigan Athletic or Paul Jewell."
Responsibility
Jewell insists that he would have stayed at Wigan, however, had the club failed to beat Sheffield United last May.
"If we had gone down then I would have stayed because I would have felt I'd have been walking away from something I'd had a big part to play in.
"I would have felt responsible for us going down, and so I would have felt it my responsibility to get us back up again.
"It's easier to walk away from something when you've left it in a good position, even if it was a struggle last season.
"So I felt very proud that I kept Wigan up, but then pleased to leave, and I'm now so happy to be here with Derby."
Double-whammy
Jewell returns to the JJB Stadium on Saturday as Derby face Wigan and, although he is desperate to get the three points, he hopes Wigan do well enough to avoid the drop in their other games.
"I would be really gutted if Derby and Wigan went down," he added. "That would be a double-whammy for me.
"You don't work at a place for six years without developing an affinity and the same goes for Bradford."
