career decisions

Having managed both Stoke City and Derby County, I’m no stranger to either club. I’ve discussed my move from Derby’s Pride Park to Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium before, but sometimes you need to reevaluate where you stand professionally and make the best decision for your career. At Derby, we narrowly missed out on the playoffs, and I was incredibly eager to build on that success. I understood the need to reduce the squad’s age, improve athleticism, and probably lower the budget. I was ready to take on these challenges, but in some key discussions, it felt like we weren’t fully aligned on a forward-thinking plan.

Ultimately, it was a tough call, and I often discuss it with Derby fans, who I still encounter regularly. Most understand; they know what it’s like to face career decisions in their own lives. If Derby had been committed to a concrete plan to reach the top six again, I’d have stayed. I came to Derby to pursue promotion, and in my first full season, we reached the playoffs but fell short in the semifinals.

Reflecting on my time at Stoke, I remember reaching a point where we were just three points shy of the top six. It was frustrating to work so hard and face so many challenges. In hindsight, I let my frustration show, especially in post-game comments. If I had paused to consider what the club and fans had endured since relegation from the Premier League, I might have fostered more unity and adjusted my approach.