I’ll field this complaint in a thread.

I’ve never shied away from saying I didn’t know much about Derby County before I took the job. However what you neglect to mention in your tweet is that I watched every game they played last year, read books upon books of their history. https://twitter.com/unclestel/status/1275007373367787528">https://twitter.com/unclestel...

I spent plenty of hours with their club historian, been to some of the community trust events, I’m pretty much glued to the hip of the Derby Tel reporter on game days because he’s been there and done it many, many times over. https://theathletic.com/1151781/2020/03/10/england-caps-signed-photos-and-a-trophy-from-iraq-club-historian-uses-his-finds-to-enhance-the-community/?source=emp_shared_article">https://theathletic.com/1151781/2...

I asked fans and still ask fans about their best memories, about feelings around the club during certain moments in history. I sat for HOURS on YouTube and various other video platforms finding what footage I could of their most famous days and nights.

This season I’ve spent time with the women’s team - not a lot and I’m working on that, but I’ve done it, I’ve spent time with the youth team, I’ve talked to people who bleed black and white. https://theathletic.com/1354098/2019/11/13/id-like-to-achieve-promotion-to-championship-with-ewe-rams-through-playing-football-rather-than-because-weve-got-money/?source=emp_shared_article">https://theathletic.com/1354098/2...

I went to the site of the BBG and chatted to former players about way back when. Spent time with a relative of Steve Bloomer, learned about him and profiled argueably Derby’s greatest ever player. https://theathletic.com/1221488/2019/09/20/a-blacksmith-striker-record-goal-scorer-and-wartime-prisoner-steve-bloomer-was-more-than-a-footballer/?source=emp_shared_article">https://theathletic.com/1221488/2...

Even went and did a profile on their unofficial mascot Private Derby and learned all about the history, tradition and meaning of it all. https://theathletic.com/1268160/2019/10/08/he-has-a-bank-account-accrues-holiday-and-loves-pride-park-a-morning-with-private-derby-xxxii/?source=emp_shared_article">https://theathletic.com/1268160/2...

Did I know much about Derby BEFORE I took this role? No. It would have been an insult to everybody & their intelligence if I claimed otherwise. Do I know a lot anout Derby now? You damn right I do! Because I worked damn hard to get there! And you ain’t about to take that from me.