Derby County are delighted to announce the arrival of Chris Hutchings as Assistant Manager following the departure of Stan Ternent to take up the vacant managerial position at Huddersfield Town.

Hutchings (pictured right) and Paul Jewell thus re-form the 'magic partnership' that has seen them enjoy three promotions together during their time at Bradford City and Wigan Athletic, two of them from the Championship into the Barclays Premier League.

Paul Jewell says in Hutchings the club have recruited one of the best technical coaches around, and he can't wait to get the partnership up and running again.

"Chris is a football man through and through and he lives to be on the training ground. He understands footballers and what makes them tick, he's a people person, and tactically there are few better than him.

"We have struck up a great understanding over the years and I'm delighted he has agreed to come on board.

"Our main task now is to put together a squad capable and in the right frame of mind to launch a promotion campaign next season for Derby County."

This will be the third time that the Jewell-Hutchings partnership works together.

In 1999, Jewell, assisted by Hutchings, led Bradford City to promotion from the then First Division, and kept The Bantams them in the top flight the following season with a sensational final day victory against Jewell's former club Liverpool.

Hutchings rejoined Jewell in the summer of 2001 at the JJB Stadium, and over the course of the following six seasons, they transformed a struggling Division Two side into one that survived not only in the Barclays Premiership for two seasons running, but finished their first season in 10th place and qualified for the Carling Cup Final.

Hutchings said: "When Paul got back in touch, I was delighted to join up with him again. Football is a game based on trust and when you build up relationships over time, these can be invaluable.

"Coming into the club as an outsider, I can see that the potential at this club is incredible. There is an ambitious chairman backed by a totally committed new owners, a manager with a proven track record, a great stadium filled every week by a magnificent support base and most importantly, there is a core of good players here, whose confidence has been badly shaken but who I'm certain can regroup in the summer and start fulfilling their potential.

"The ingredients are all here and I'm looking forward to getting back to work."

Hutchings (right) with Paul Jewell and Mark Seagraves

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