Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Rowett’s bye to the Brum fans
GARY ROWETT wants the chance to say goodbye to Birmingham City’s supporters next week – but will salute Derby County’s travelling support first.
The Rams chief returns for the first time to the club that surprisingly sacked him just before Christmas, with his own mission of making a late charge into the Championship play-offs with his new charges.
And though he says that applauding Derby’s travelling support will be his first priority, he wants to say a proper farewell to the fans he left behind.
He said: “It will be slightly surreal, walking out there. It was strange going back to St Andrew’s to commentate on the game for Sky.
“I’ll be more nervous than I normally would be. I was when I returned to Burton Albion with Birmingham.
“And it will be strange to stand in the away dug-out.
“But I want only one outcome: a win for Derby County. The first thing I’ll do when I come out of the tunnel is clap the Derby County supporters.
“I’m there to win the match for Derby County. Let me make that 100 per cent clear.
“That is my focus. I’m good at detaching myself. I want to win for the club that employs me – as any manager does.
“But it is a fact that I never got the chance to say goodbye to the Birmingham fans.
“I didn’t want to leave. It wasn’t my decision. The club decided to put me on the open market.
“I’ve said before that I had a great relationship with the supporters. I particularly enjoyed some of the away days we had together.
“And I’ve said that the atmosphere for the match against Villa at St Andrew’s earlier this season was fantastic. I was only sorry we couldn’t give them a win to shout about.
“But that’s in the past. “Derby County is my future.”