Hutchings joins Jewell at Derby

Hutchings will replace Stan Ternent, who was named as the new manager of Huddersfield on Thursday, as Paul Jewell's number two after the two previously worked together at Wigan and Bradford.

Jewell told www.dcfc.co.uk: "Chris is a football man through and through and he lives to be on the training ground. He understands footballers and what makes them tick, he's a people person and tactically there are few better than him."

He added: "We have struck up a great understanding over the years and I'm delighted he has agreed to come on board. Our main task now is to put together a squad capable and in the right frame of mind to launch a promotion campaign next season for Derby County."

And Hutchings insists he has already seen enough evidence to suggest Derby have the infrastructure in place to establish themselves as a top-flight club.

He added: "When Paul got back in touch, I was delighted to join up with him again. Football is a game based on trust and when you build up relationships over time, these can be invaluable.

"Coming into the club as an outsider, I can see the potential at the club is incredible.

"There is an ambitious chairman backed by totally committed new owners, a manager with a proven track record, a great stadium filled every week by a magnificent support base and most importantly, there is a core of good players here, whose confidence has been badly shaken but who I'm certain can regroup in the summer and start fulfilling their potential.

"The ingredients are here and I'm looking forward to getting back to work."