The Rams' second-string played the final fixture of their Premier Reserve League season last night, winning for the first time in 18 games with a 1-0 victory over Birmingham.

But in the wake of the senior team's relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship this term, Jewell is to dispense with his reserves.

Instead, he will play a number of behind-closed-doors matches at the club's Moor Farm training ground.

Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Jewell said: "It's nothing to do with cost. I think it's better suited for the football club.

"A lot of clubs have the same idea because trying to get a reserve game off when it's not convenient is harder than getting blood out of a stone, and you end up sending a team that is not equipped.

"You look at the reserves that have played most of the season and it's basically been a youth team because the games have fallen when it hasn't been convenient.

"What I want to do next season is play games behind closed doors, or at our convenience, rather than just fulfilling fixtures."