Derby County chairman Adam Pearson admits their scouting was "poor" as they prepared for this season's Premiership campaign.
He told the The Times' TheGame podcast: "Signings were made late in August, they were [mainly] Championship players, the scouting network [abroad] was poor.
"Yes, mistakes were made, but, to be fair to Billy Davies [Jewell's predecessor], he got the club promoted in the first place, so he obviously did something right."