Jewell was named as Billy Davies' successor after a whirlwind 24 hours began with a phonecall from Rams chairman Adam Pearson and ended with him being unveiled at Pride Park this morning.

Having quit Wigan in May after keeping them in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United on the final day of last season, Jewell could not resist the challenge offered by Derby.

And he believes he has benefited from the break, dismissing suggestions he left the Latics because he could not handle the pressure of managing in the top flight.

"I was never ill. I was never in a straitjacket as some people might have thought," said the 43-year-old.

"All I wanted to do was walk away from Wigan with my head held high.

"There were absolutely no health reasons. I just wanted a rest from football and I'm not ashamed to say that.

"I enjoyed my time and I'm refreshed and hopefully I can come back a better manager.

"I've taken my time out of football to reflect on how I can get better. That time has not just been spent playing golf, as some people might think, I've done a lot of travelling and watched a lot of football to try to improve myself as a manager."

Jewell, who turned down a couple of offers to return to management during his time away from the game, has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract and stressed he considers Derby a long-term project.

However, with the team bottom of the Barclays Premier League with just six points he knows he must first focus on survival.

Derby's plight is not as bad as it could be as although they have won only once in 14 matches, such is the poor standard in the lower half of the table they are only four points from safety.

Jewell certainly thinks he can pull off another great escape - having achieved it with Bradford and Wigan already in the top flight.

"If I don't believe it, if the players don't believe it, if the fans don't believe it we have no chance," he said.

"It's going to be very difficult - I'm a realist - but I'm not here to wave the white flag with 20-odd games to go. We're not adrift."

Jewell will meet his new squad for the first time at training tomorrow and will leave them in no doubt as to what he expects in order to rescue the club from falling back into the Coca-Cola Championship after one season in the top flight.

"You are starting with a clean piece of paper and it's up to you to prove you should be in the team and are good enough to play in the Premier League," was his message to the players.

"As long as the players give everything they have got you can't ask for any more. But I won't be asking that I will be demanding it and I'm sure I will get that response from the players.

"We have to work together and try to get out of the mess."

There will be money available to strengthen the squad in the transfer window - something predecessor Davies had been vociferous about - and Jewell does have his targets.

However, he will not be going on a spending spree just for the sake of it.

"People talk about the January window but you have to be careful about who you bring in," he added.

"I've got a decent portfolio of players we would like to bring in if available."

Paul Ince had been linked with the Pride Park job - his Coca-Cola League Two club MK Dons today issued a statement saying they rejected an approach from Derby - but the recently-installed Rams chairman claimed Jewell was the best man to replace Davies.

"Paul (Jewell) is a stand-out candidate with regard to managerial experience in both the Premier League and the Championship," said Pearson.

"I was very interested in Paul Ince but Milton Keynes didn't give us permission (to speak to him).

"In the end we needed that little bit of experience. I got a call from Paul Jewell's agent and my attention switched, but I think we should watch out for Paul Ince as a manager."