Derby County chairman Mel Morris discusses Nigel Pearson’s time in charge

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The Rams chairman suspended and then sacked Pearson after a falling-out and subsequent investigation.

Derby County owner Mel Morris has discussed the short reign of Nigel Pearson, and admitted that things did not go according to the plan the club had when they appointed him as manager, as quoted by the Derby Telegraph.

Pearson was sacked by the Rams over the weekend after an internal investigation launched following an argument between the manager and the chairman.

Though that falling-out was the trigger, Pearson’s dismissal looks perhaps justified on results alone. The East Midlands club won just one of their first nine Championship games of the season under the former Leicester boss.

Since Pearson’s suspension, Derby have earned four points from two games under caretaker boss Chris Powell, who is considered to be a frontrunner to replace his former boss on a full-time basis.

Morris has now discussed the reign of Pearson and admitted that the club lacked the stability under the manager to carry out their plan.

The chairman said, via the Derby Telegraph: “I can’t talk about specifics of Nigel’s departure in the same way you couldn’t if you’d gone through a contractual process like we have.

“Firstly, I think Nigel is a very capable guy. No question mark about that. We all went into this thing with a very clear view that this was going to be a very good appointment for us but sometimes things don’t go as you plan.

“This thing about stability is very important, but stability comes from two things. It doesn’t just come from a managerial appointment, it also comes from the structure, the fabric and the commitment of an organisation to a plan.

“So, if a manager doesn’t work out for whatever reasons I don’t see that as the be all and end all of everything, provided that the plan we have and the person who comes in continues with that plan.”

Pearson has often divided opinion throughout his managerial career and this latest chapter is likely to serve as a stark warning for any chairman considering hiring the 53-year-old.

The manager, who turned down Aston Villa to join Derby at the end of May, may find that he now struggles to convince clubs that he is the right man to bring stability and progress.