Current unemployed manager Gary Rowett admits he perhaps should have stayed at Derby County instead of leaving them for rivals Stoke City, the Mirror report.
The former Derby County fullback took over the Rams job in 2017. In his first full season, he guided the East Midlands club to a sixth-place finish and a playoff spot.
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images).
But, after missing out on promotion to the top-flight, Rowett abruptly ended his spell at Derby by joining Stoke City who had just been relegated to the Championship.
Rowett made several enemies at Pride Park, and he now admits regrets.
I’ve got some regrets on Derby, we’d done well and there was talk of reducing the budget, coming into line with FFP and I thought it would take time. Maybe I should have stayed but it’s easy to look back when the next job doesn’t go well,
Rowett struggled to make an impact at Stoke despite spending heavy sums.
The Potters languished in midtable last season, drawing far too many games. Rowett was tasked with automatic promotion, and Stoke’s poor form cost him his job.
The 45-year-old is now working as a pundit on Championship football, waiting for his opportunity to return to management which given the nature shouldn’t be too long.
Derby, meanwhile, have taken a different route since Rowett’s exit. There has been a shift towards looking at long-term sustainability with Financial Fair Play in mind.
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images).
New manager Phillip Cocu has been tasked with signing young players and bringing through academy players. It will be a slow process, but he is the ideal man for the job.