Ex-midfielder Paul Devlin has backed his former boot boy to succeed in guiding Notts County to Sky Bet League 1 safety.
Magpies boss Shaun Derry scrubbed Devlin’s boots as a youngster, before graduating into the first team at Meadow Lane.
The duo were later teammates when their paths crossed again at Sheffield United - this weekend's opponents.
Having experienced what Derry was like as a player, Devlin knows that the gaffer has what it takes to steer County away from the bottom four in the second half of the 2013.14 campaign.
He said: “He’s doing well, it is tough and I’m sure he would have liked to have picked up some more results, especially over Christmas, but as we saw in the last game, there is plenty of quality there.
“He’s a young manager finding his way in the game and we all know his heart is in the right place.
“He loves the club and has a strong affinity with Notts.
“Knowing Dezza as he was as a player, he will certainly give it his best shot and I’m sure he will find a way to get Notts out.”
Devlin made 180 appearances for the club and scored 31 times.
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