New Derby Boss Nigel Pearson Targets Premier League Return
Newly announced Derby County manager Nigel Pearson has set his sights on a return to the Premier League, according to the "?Independent.
Pearson, who was sacked last year in June by former club Leicester after successfully avoiding relegation to the Championship during the 2014-15 season, stressed the importance of returning to management on his own terms at his unveiling.
"It was important for me to start again at a club where the fit was right for me and where I felt it was right for me to be back in management, where I could bring my skill set to the fore and have the best chance of succeeding.
"The foundations are in place for the Premier League, not just the squad but the infrastructure and facilities.
"There is the basis of a very good squad here, not to say there won't be tweaks made along the way."
The past three seasons have seen Derby start Championship campaigns strongly but fade away towards the end of the season, and both Steve McClaren and Paul Clement have paid the price for the Rams' poor end of season form with their jobs during that period.
And Pearson understands the size of the task awaiting him as the club aim for promotion.
"Whenever you take over a club with stature in the Championship, and Derby is certainly that, that has to be the aim", Pearson said after being asked about the prospect of a return to the top flight.
"I'm not going to talk about time scales but that's clearly what we want to achieve, although it's never easy and there are some big clubs in this league."
Pearson had previously been linked with both Aston Villa and Fulham, and was promoted twice during his time with the Foxes.
He was involved in a number of controversial moments during the 2014-15 season, including an altercation with Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur and the infamous 'Ostrich' comment during apress conference.
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