Derby County football chairman Adam Pearson has praised Paul Jewell for taking on the manager's job with the club destined for relegation.

"The Americans were involved in the process when we took on Paul Jewell," Pearson told the Derby Telegraph. "We were heavily involved in talks with them at that stage and I think they were surprised that we could get a manager of his calibre.

"It's been incredibly brave of Paul to take on a club that's adrift at the bottom of the Premier League when he's got such a good reputation as a manager.

"No-one's saying it's going to be an easy ride. The next three months are going to be extremely difficult and we're putting on big, thick skins to try to get through it."

From day one, Jewell has spoken of the bigger picture at Derby, of his vision for the future.

"No, I didn't see taking the job here as a brave decision. I just saw it as a great challenge and a great opportunity," he said. "If I get it right, I think the rewards are huge as far as fulfillment for my career is concerned.

"I want to see the potential of Derby County realised. It only enhances the reasons I came here.

"I knew it was a big club, but I didn¹t know quite how big and how much the club meant to the supporters. It¹s absolutely huge and I¹m delighted to be here. I'm disappointed and frustrated that results haven't been better but I'm very confident, given a good run, that we can turn it around and make the club competitive in the Premier League."