Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes admits it was difficult to sell Robbie Savage to Derby in January.
He said: "Sav was great for me but I told him he wasn't guaranteed to play week in, week out even though there was still a role for him here.
"When Robbie's not playing, he's not the easiest to have around.
"That came into the thinking. He hasn't got a nasty bone in his body but he gets down when he's not playing. Sav felt he would find it difficult to cope with not being in the team.
"From a football and business point of view, it was the correct decision.
"We got a decent fee which, hopefully, I'll be able to use in the summer."
Savage is joined by defenders Andy Todd and Jay McEveley in making up a trio of former Rovers stars returning to their old club today.
Sparky added: "All three of them were great for me. They don't have anything to prove but they'll come with a desire to do well.
"Usually, it's just one player who comes back trying to haunt you.
"But we've got three here so we won't take any of them lightly."
