Back of the Net!

Reports today indicate that lowly Burton Albion have told manager Nigel Clough that they will not stand in his way should Derby County offer him the vacant managers job made available following Billy Davies’ move to Nottingham Forest.

Nigel Clough is of course the son of Brian Clough, former Derby County, Nottingham Forest (and Leeds United ) manager and former Middlesbrough and Sunderland striker.

He’s a legend in the North East and in the Midlands, with statues in both locations.

So what of young Nigel?

Well these days he’s not so young.  He’s been managing Burton Albion since 1998 and has taken the semi-pro team from Northern Premier League Premier Division to the Conference National (the fifth tier of the English League) during that time.

Can Nigel Clough - now 42 - make the step up to the Championship, and fulfil Derby County’s ambition of promotion to the English Premier League?  Does he even want to?

And if he does, will we see the sort of no nonsense, everyman declaration of opinion combined with deft, attractive football that defined Clough Snr’s career?

Or is Nigel Clough his own man?

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