Defender easy Rams choice

Derby signing Paul Connolly says it took just the one meeting with Rams boss Paul Jewell in order to persuade him to join.

The right-back had been linked to a host of clubs after being released by Plymouth but after just the one meeting with Jewell he says he knew where he would be playing next season.

He told the Derby Telegraph: "I had about four or five other clubs interested in the Championship and I got a phone call from Paul Jewell, who said: "Can you come up and meet me?'

"I jumped in the car, drove up on my own and met him. He showed me around the whole club. It was late on, it was getting dark and he showed me the training ground, the stadium and we walked around for two hours.

"We talked about football, life in general - we talked about everything. As soon as the meeting finished, I drove back to Plymouth - about five hours in the car again.

"Then I phoned my agent and said: ?As long as the contract's OK, I want to cancel talks with the other clubs. I want to sign for Derby.'"