Forty-Two years after Brian Clough took charge at Derby County, son Nigel walked into Pride Park after dropping his kids off at school ready for his first day at the helm of the club his father guided from the depths of the second tier of English football to the very top of the domestic game.

 

10 years spent at nearby Burton Albion have given Clough junior a sound understanding of exactly what the legendary former Derby and Nottingham Forest boss Brian went through. Now he is ready to ply his trade in the spotlight. Yet the former Forest, Liverpool and Manchester City striker is determined that he will not be seen a merely a ‘chip off the old block’ and will manage the club his way.

The appointment is a relative rarity these days as Clough leaves Burton 13 points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier League and with the apparent goodwill of a lot of the footballing world. Watching his new charges beat “World Champions” Manchester United will not have harmed the feel-good factor surrounding Clough at Pride Park. With his backroom staff from Burton joining him, the only regret is that his father is not around to offer advice.