Nigel is a wonderful, kind man who I have the upmost time and respect for. From when I first spoke to Nigel and joined Leicester, we clicked and got on very well. He made me feel that I was more than just a player but more like a part of his family. I’m very thankful for the opportunities Nigel has brought for me, and I owe a lot of my success to him.

As a manager, there were four personal qualities I valued highly in others; authenticity, respect, trust and leadership. When I was manager of Sheffield Wednesday, I signed Nigel Pearson from Shrewsbury Town and to my very welcome surprise I discovered he brought all four characteristics to the party. When he moved into coaching and then management, he maintained that integrity and commitment to his beliefs.

Nigel is a mentor of mine and gave me my first opportunity in coaching. He has an extensive knowledge of the game, is a natural leader, with first-class man management skills.

A constant inspiration, Nigel reaches out to inspire people and to deliver a cohesive football operation. His ability to motivate players is key but his strategic vision to apply effective long-term sustainable solutions is also valuable. Without reservation, I would present Nigel’s name on any short list for consideration.