Derby 'coup' as fireman Jewell reports for duty

The Merseysider completed his whirlwind move to Pride Park just 48 hours after Billy Davies moved out, agreeing a £1.5million three-and-a-half year deal to succeed the Scot.

Scroll down to read more:

Even though Jewell has engineered nerve-shredding last-day relegation escapes at both Bradford City and Wigan Athletic, his employer confirmed that it was not just with the top-flight in mind that he had been appointed.

"Paul is a stand-out candidate, as regards managerial experience in the Premier League - and the Championship," said Pearson, "I cannot think of a better man to lead us into battle.

"This is quite a coup and his appointment gives the club a real lift. I want to put a positive slant back on the club, I want to be on the front foot and this guy will definitely do that for us. His characteristics, personality, reputation and experience are exactly what I was looking for. I'm delighted we've got our man."

Jewell left Wigan citing his need for a break from the game following a final-day of the highest drama at Bramall Lane. He was courted by Latics' chairman Dave Whelan earlier this month but resisted that opportunity, as he did the job with the Republic of Ireland. He has taken over a club rooted to the bottom of the league with just one victory, and six points, from 14 matches.

"A lot of people seem to think I am a firefighter because at a lot of the clubs I have managed," he said, "getting Bradford to stay up against all the odds was an achievement.

"I was very proud of that. In my first year in the Premier League with Wigan we finished tenth and got to a cup final. I didn't feel like Red Adair then, but certainly I did last year.

"I have been in two relegation scraps before at Bradford and Wigan. I know it is going to be difficult but we don't need snookers yet.

"It is a tough job but one I am relishing and looking forward to. All is not lost. We know it is going to be difficult because I am a realist and we have it all on.

"But there are 24 games left I believe and it might be this season that you need the lowest points total to stay up.

"We are looking to try and stay up. We know it is going to be difficult. We have to be realistic because we have won only one in 14 so we have to improve dramatically. "If we do go down – and there is no way I will accept relegation – then I want to make sure we campaign for the championship like Watford. "but I am not prepared to accept relegation. "I have never been relegated and I want to keep that going.

"But I have not signed a six-month contract. "I have signed a three and a half year contract and by the time that contract finishes hopefully Derby will be moving forward."

Jewell was anxious to dispel the notion that he was on the verge of a breakdown when he called time on his career at the JJB Stadium.

"People have this mis-conception that I took the break because I was cracking up. I wasn't. Everyone has jobs where they think they have done as much as they can and walk away.

"That was the case for me at Wigan. I wanted a rest and a lot of Premier League managers have called me and saying they wish they had done it.

"I was fortunate enough to be able to do that. If we had gone down I would have stayed and I would not have wanted people thinking I was walking away after relegation.

"I have come back. My enthusiasm for the game has never waned. I just wanted to take a break. There is a time and a place to leave work, whether it is a football club, a newspaper, whatever it is. I felt it was the right time, not just for me, but for Wigan.

"And there was no undercurrent. There was no banging my head against the wall. There were no marriage problems. I was never ill and I was not in a straight-jacket. None of that.

"Dave Whelan said one or two things, that he never intended to be misconstrued. There was nothing wrong with me and six months in the Priory has cured me!"