Championship Betting: Frank Lampard appointed manager of Derby County

Derby County have announced the appointment of Frank Lampard as their new manager. The ex-Cheslea and England midfielder has signed a three year deal for what will be his first job in management.

The news comes two weeks after County were beaten by Fulham in the Champions play-offs semi-finals. Lampard's lack of managerial experience means it's impossible to know what impact he'll have at Pride Park but most firms are offering odds of around 6.00 on Derby winning promotion next season and around 15.00 them finishing top of the Championship.

An inspired choice or a reckless gamble?

Lampard has been praised for his tactical insights as a pundit but, as Gary Neville knows, that doesn't mean he'll be any good as a manager. Mind you, the best manager in England right now is a former-midfielder, so perhaps Lampard will be the next Pep Guardiola.

Derby need stability, with Lampard their seventh manager in three years, and they were disappointed to see Gary Rowett leave for Championship rivals Stoke.

Derby are hoping Lampard turns out to be as tactically astute as his one time mentor Jose Mourinho and as good at motivating player as his uncle, Harry Redknapp who's backing him to succeed.

Redknapp said: "Frank hasn't spent the last 20 years with his eyes closed - he's an intelligent guy. He was the best professional and the best trainer I ever came across, by a million miles.

"He's going to take that now into management. The most important thing he needs is good players."

Lampard knows it won't be easy

Lampard acknowledges that the job at Derby "won't be easy". However, he also said: "I've always wanted to manage a club with a big tradition and history like Derby County, so this is a huge opportunity."

Whatever happens, Lampard's appointment has grabbed the headlines and will create intrigue around Derby - a club that twice won the League title in the 1970s - when the Championship season begins.

As a player, Lampard was often brilliant and always indefatigable. Like his ex-England midfield team-mate Steven Gerrard, who is about to begin his first managerial job with Rangers, Lampard will need to bring both those qualities, and more, to management.