'I don't normally go for Cockneys, young man,' he told me, 'but myself and my pal Peter Taylor think that you've got what it takes to be a great player. What do you think about that?'
I didn't know what to say. I was confused. I hadn't thought about leaving West Ham. I felt guilty just talking about it.
'I'm not sure, Mr. Clough,' I said. 'This has come as a bit of a shock.'
'I'll tell you what,' said Brian Clough. 'I'll kip down on your couch and you go upstairs with your young lady and sleep on it. And we'll finalise things in the morning.'
'Er, OK.'
I then watched as Brian Clough took himself into our lounge with a quilt that Sandi had given him and closed the door. I put one foot on the stairs; I didn't know what to think. I wasn't sure that I wanted to go to Derby County. I wasn't sure about anything ...
When I got back the next morning, Brian Clough was gone. Sandi was furious - I told her that it was the only way I was able to get away from him, and that otherwise we'd have to sell our little house and move to Derby, which was practically in Scotland. It was never mentioned again.