Allardyce To Replace Jewell At Derby?

Last updated : 03 May 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Although Fulham's Roy Hodgson and Bolton's Gary Megson are favourites to be the next Premiership bosses to lose their jobs ... depending on who stays up and who goes down ... but Paul Jewell's odds have drop dramatically in the last few days.

Jewell is under pressure, and it showed yesterday when he lost his cool with a SKY TV reporter, who asked if his job was in doubt.

He insists his Derby side will not warrant any sympathy if they officially become the worst team to have ever played in Premiership history this weekend.

The relegated Rams, still on just 11 points, travel to Blackburn for their penultimate game before returning to the Championship knowing maximum points are required from their remaining two matches if they are to beat Sunderland's record low of 15 set two years ago.

Considering County have failed in all 18 of their attempts to win away from Pride Park in the league this term, the task will prove far easier said than done.

And Jewell, who is yet to preside over a league victory since his November arrival, admits they can have no complaints should the tag come their way.

Jewell: "It will be deserved.

"If you've got the least number of points, least number of goals and the most goals against I don't think it's harsh to be remembered as the worst team in the league, but it would be nice to be remembered as a team that bounced back."

"I'm a big believer that you finish where you deserve to but a lot of people I speak to say Derby were quite fortunate last year in a lot of games and supporters have probably known from day one they probably weren't good.

"When you are not good enough in the Premier League it just eats you alive and that's what's happened to us."

Derby fans have seen a horror season, and nothing Jewell has done has shown there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sam Allardyce would perhaps not be the Jose Mourinho everyone craves, but he would certainly be better than what they have already.
 
Meanwhile Big Sam insists he'll be heartbroken if Bolton Wanderers fail to beat the drop.

Allardyce: "Of course I care about what happens to them.

"I spent nearly eight years building that club up and added to the times I was there as a player, I've been associated with Bolton for 18 years. I don't want to see everything go to waste but they know they should not be in this position. It will be great if they survive but that's not achievement. They should have been much higher up the table.

"Perhaps they will learn lessons from what's gone on.

"I'm living back in the town and fans come up to me all the time telling me how it's all gone wrong. They ask if I'm going back but I always say 'No'. It was a great time but it's finished."