Championship / Robert Hughes / 13 January 2009 /

Nobody is expecting him to emulate his father's stupendous achievements but, by building his side around a core of talented youngsters, Nigel Clough can offer Derby County steady progress, says Robert Hughes.

Nigel Clough has described his new position as 'one of the most exciting jobs in football' - but also, more realistically, as 'a tremendous challenge'. Derby County currently sit 18th in the Championship, only five points clear of the relegation zone.

It is a similar position to that inherited by his father Brian when he took over back in 1967, with the club was languishing near the bottom of the old Second Division. Within two years they were in the top flight and three years later they were League Champions - not surprisingly, he is still the most revered figure in the club's history. He proved himself a genius in the transfer market, and got the best out of his players using a curious mixture of bullying and inspiration. One of his key signings, Archie Gemmill, once reflected: "Don't ask me why we played so hard for Brian Clough. It will always be a bit of a mystery. Part of it no doubt was fear". But his players didn't perform like they were afraid, taking the First Division by storm with a skilful, uninhibited style of football.

No-one is expecting such dramatic achievements from Clough Jnr, not least because the days are long gone when it was possible for a team to go from the second tier of English football and become League Champions within a few years. Without huge financial support, even an inspirational, visionary manager like Brian Clough would struggle to repeat his achievements in the current climate - although it would be interesting to see how his man-management style would work in the days of 'player power' and agents.

Although he shares his father's belief in attractive, passing football, Nigel Clough's management style is far more quiet and low-key. Derby fans should expect their new manager to provide gradual progression rather than revolution, as demonstrated by the ten years he has been in charge at Burton Albion, where progress has been steady rather than dramatic.

In 2002 they won promotion from the Unibond League, and after seven seasons in the Blue Square Premier, they are now clear at the top and on the brink of claiming a place in the Football League for the first time in their history. By contrast, only eighteen months after leading Derby from relative obscurity to their first League title, Brian Clough had resigned due to his explosive relationship with then Chairman Sam Longson.

Nigel Clough will take charge of a squad which is not lacking in ability, but in the words of current Chairman Adam Pearson, is 'underperforming by 10-15%', and is in serious need of what he calls 'confidence and belief-building'.

The new manager may well look to build his side around young players such as Kris Commons and Paul Green, and some of the graduates from the club's successful Academy. The most well-known of these is 20-year-old midfielder Giles Barnes, and although he may soon be lost to a Premier League club, there are also the likes Miles Addison, Lewin Nyatanga and Jason Beardsley, who have all broken into the first team recently.

The new manager's main priority will obviously be to ensure that Derby stay in the Championship, and you can lay them at [15.5] in the relegation market. Clough will need to quickly reverse their worrying recent form (which has seen just one win in their last nine matches), starting with this weekend's home game against QPR.

Most clubs receive a boost in confidence when a new manager takes over, but the significance of having a Clough in charge should inspire the players and fans even more, and a Derby win looks a decent bet at [2.4] - especially since QPR have managed only one away win this season.

Avoiding relegation may be the priority, but Clough Jnr will have an opportunity to write his own chapter of Derby County history within two weeks of taking over. Reaching the Final of the Carling Cup by knocking out Man Utd at Old Trafford would be an achievement the likes of which even his father didn't manage in his first season. With Derby holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, it is an outcome which can be backed at [5.1].

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