Hull fans should beware their new knight in shining armour

By James Nursey

Published 18:28 05/11/09

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Few men are capable of securing a better job after failing abysmally in their previous post but Adam Pearson has done just that.

It is a reflection that Pearson is one of the smoothest, most media savvy and streetwise operators in football.

And that is precisely why he is back in the Premier League with Hull despite presiding over Derby's drop into the Championship and leaving them in another relegation fight.

I have a few words of caution for Hull fans expecting Pearson to be their knight in shining armour now he is in charge at the club once more.

I first came across Pearson, 45, when he was unveiled as Derby's new executive chairman on October 29, 2007 having bought most of Peter Gadsby's shares.

After arriving with a brief to find some new investment in the club, Pearson quickly masterminded a buy-out by American-based group General Sports and Entertainment.

The model they hoped to emulate at Pride Park - we were told - was Randy Lerner's regime at Aston Villa.

But while Lerner has personally ploughed at least £100m into Villa after buying it for £60m in 2006, County's owners, doubtlessly affected by the credit crunch, have struggled to find any fresh funds to inject after their original buy-out.

Now with Derby in a relegation battle in the Championship, I believe the club's US owners are probably wondering what the heck they have got themselves into after buying into a Premier League club.

I get the feeling the reality has definitely not matched the pitch Pearson no doubt dazzled them with.

Then again Pearson also claimed County manager Billy Davies was secure in his job upon his unveiling as executive chairman.

In fact, Pearson said that in the event the Rams went down, there would be no-one better than Davies to take them back up. What happened? Davies was sacked on November 26, 2007.

So I think Hull boss Phil Brown should definitely watch his back at the KC Stadium now Pearson is in charge once more.

Unfortunately for Derby, Pearson's decision to bring in Paul Jewell as Davies' replacement was a complete disaster.

The club ended up relegated in 2008 with a record low Premier League points tally of just 11.

And the collection of expensive dud signings like Andy Todd, Roy Carroll, Claude Davis, Martin Albrechtsen and Tito Villa is the main reason Derby are in their current financial mess near the foot of the Championship.

Derby's plight was so bad, Jewell's successor Nigel Clough demanded 15 players were put up for sale this summer and the club were forced to cancel the contracts of the likes of Albrechtsen.

But Pearson has ridden off into the sunset with a huge profit on his Derby shares - and straight into a better job.

Good luck to him but football really does never cease to amaze me!

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