"We as a board have supported the manager and the players all year, and the players have put it back in.

"Today is the culmination of all of that hard work.

"The board deserve it, the players and staff deserve it, the people of Derby deserve it and I'm delighted for everyone.

"The scenes out there (on the pitch) are fantastic, I'm absolutely soaked, but at least they didn't get me to jump on the pitch!

"It puts us on the mpa again. The townspeople of Derby, the shops, hotels, restaurants, everything.

"Derby County's name will be in the national newspapers on a regular basis and hopefully that will bring some prosperity into the town, and put the club back as being one of the top teams in the Midlands again.

"Billy has been a god-send from the day he came - he's enthusiastic, committed, his personality is infectious on the team and you can see the results."