THE article about John McGovern and his relationship with Brian Clough (Echo, Nov 3) evoked happy memories for me.

I’m a Derby County supporter and I well remember Brian Clough taking over as manager in 1967.

A friend of mine was a scout for the club and formed part of the welcoming group who showed Clough around the old Baseball Ground. It was a ground with a proud history and tradition, but it had seen better days.

Someone in the group asked Clough what his priorities were and he responded by saying: “The first thing we’ll do is paint these f*****g stands.”

Robust but very perceptive.

The Rams, at that time, were a club who’d lost their pride. Their policy was to buy quality players, usually past their best, with a mid-table finish in the old second division the extent of their ambitions.

Clough instinctively knew this and realised that any rejuvenation had to begin with image and how the club felt about itself.

Excepting his time at Leeds United, he was a great manager of players, intuitively knowing when to encourage and when to wield the stick.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland