Phil Brown waved goodbye to Bolton Wanderers this afternoon as he took over as the new manager of Championship outfit Derby County.
The charismatic assistant of Sam Allardyce has served the Wanderers for a total of 17 years, both in capacities as a player and as a coach, but he is now taking his first steps into management at Pride Park as the successor to George Burley.
Brown, made over 350 appearances during his six year playing career at the Wanderers between 1988 and 1994 before moving to Blackpool as player coach under Sam Allardyce, a man who he is eternally thankful to for allowing him to move on.
"I can't thank Sam for what he's done for me over the last seven or eight years and for not standing in my way. I can't wait to get started." he explained to the Bolton Evening News.
"People might think I'm crazy leaving now after helping the club qualify for Europe for the first time in its history but, if they think that, they don't know Phil Brown.
"I've always wanted to be a manager and a club like Derby will give me the opportunity to fulfil that ambition to the best of my ability.
The 46-year old was quick to praise the club that he left behind, a club which he describes as being "first-class", but his first job as new manager with the Rams is to aim for the ultimate prize, a swift return to the Premiership.
"I've spent more than half of my football life at Bolton and the club has been nothing but first class as far as I am concerned. I will always have fond memories of my time there.
"It was always going to be hard to prise myself away but I'm absolutely elated to be given the chance to manage a club of Derby's stature in my first management opportunity.
"I've got a big job on my hands but George (Burley) has left me with a very good squad that finished fourth last season and that has put pressure on me to try to get Derby into the Premiership. But I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Speculation is already rife that Wanderers old-boys Peter Reid and Jimmy Phillips are being lined up for the job of replacing Brown but the Trotters have yet to comment on the backroom re-shuffle.