Perryqhill
Striker
I think we'll have to disagree - I think that most Derby fans are very grateful for what he achieved there given the state of the club (there are also quite a few who aren't!) - and again the Sheffield fans are split. Taking a club from the bottom of L1 to 7th in 2/3 of a season and then playoffs the next (plus two cup semi finals) isn't failure in my book. You also don't get on the LMA shortlist for manager of the year without doing something pretty decent at Burton - and you'll not find many other managers or journalists (or any of his players) who have a bad word to say about him.
Very interesting that Sam Rush (the chief exec that sacked him at Derby) has now been sacked himself for gross misconduct. I'm surprised Rush lasted as long as he did.
Burton have never paid wages about their station - either when they were non-league or now (and especially in the Championship)
He was expected to do more at both clubs. At Derby there was an overhaul to do, but he was allowed to bring in 9 permanent players and about 14 on loan, finishing two points and for places better off after a full season. They then lost to Crawley in the FA Cup and his job was apparently under pressure at the time and their poor form saw him coming under a lot of pressure. The next season he spent a few quid in the transfer market and he oversaw their best start to a season for over 100 year. He signed a new contract on the strength of that start in the October before their form quickly fell away. After a good start and being in the play-offs their form was mixed and they ended up 12th. He was sacked early next season after three straight defeats and mixed results.
Sorry but Derby fans aren't 'very grateful' at all, he done a very average job at the time even if it wasn't easy.
At Sheff United it was better, but they were expecting to actually go up having spent what they did and although they went close he was looked upon as having failed.
Burton were signing pro players when part time ffs. For the level they were at they were. Apart from Clough they had Wassall, Phil Starbuck, Gary Crosby and other local pros who joined straight from league football or the conference. Crosby joined straight from Rushden, Wassall from Derby. They even had Andy Sinton a year or two after Clough joined.