All you need to know about the new Notts County manager...
NAME | Shaun Derry
ROLE | First Team Manager
DOB | 6 December 1977
BIRTHPLACE | Nottingham, England
BIO | Derry started his footballing career at Meadow Lane and went on to become an important first team player after graduating from the Academy.
The tough-tackling midfielder made a total of 93 appearances in the Black and White stripes, including 27 throughout the Magpies’ record-breaking Division Three championship campaign in 1997.98.
During that season, Sheffield United paid £700,000 to secure Derry’s services and he went on to represent the Blades 83 times in a two-year spell, before agreeing a £300,000 move to Portsmouth.
56 appearances between 2000 and 2002 then preceded a £400,000 switch to Crystal Palace, which saw later him feature 44 times as they gained promotion to the top-flight via the Play-Offs in 2004.
Limited game time in 2004.05 led to him being loaned to Nottingham Forest, ahead of a transfer to Leeds United, where he became a cult-figure through his passionate displays as United and was later named as vice-captain.
Derry returned to Crystal Palace in 2008 following a successful loan spell and went on to become a key performer and club captain.
In his last season at Selhurst Park, Palace were placed in administration and faced a relegation battle, but his influential performances helped them to fight through turbulent times and they avoided the drop on the final day of the 2009.10 season.
As a result of the financial difficulties, former Palace boss Neil Warnock departed for Queen’s Park Rangers and Derry followed suit after his contract expired.
Derry is regarded as one of Warnock’s best pieces of business, as the combative midfielder was integral to their return to the Premier League as champions in 2011.
Following the promotion, Derry made played 32 times in the Premier League, including an outstanding performance in a 1-0 win over Chelsea and a goal in an unforgettable 3-2 victory over Liverpool.
2012.13 provided less game time – 19 appearances – but he remained a valuable member of the Loftus Road dressing room and was handed a new one-year deal in the summer.
Derry was loaned out to Championship Millwall earlier this term, where he has featured on seven occasions.
Having agreed a mutual termination of his contract at QPR, Derry has teamed up with the Magpies as first team manager, where it is hoped that he can influence an upturn in fortunes.
Derry will not be able to play for the Magpies until next season, having already represented QPR and Millwall this term.