Mel Morris is sitting in the Pride Park boardroom on a glorious spring morning, reflecting on the day that appointing Frank Lampard as Derby’s manager first became possible.

It was creeping towards the end of May last year, when Harry Redknapp’s name flashed up on the Derby owner and chairman’s mobile phone. Derby had suffered another defeat in the play-offs with Gary Rowett departing soon after for Stoke City, leaving Morris having to appoint his fifth manager in three years.

Morris takes up the story: "Harry called and said: ‘Just go and meet Frank Lampard, see what you think, and decide after you’ve met him.’ I was sceptical, not about it being Frank, more about someone who had never done it before. But every managerial appointment is a gamble and whatever happens now, he’s made history here.

"Frank has brought the buzz back to the place. He has created a special environment. It wasn’t about him being a celebrity, it was about somebody giving us excitement. He has an aura, like all great managers. I called Harry this week and said: ‘Don’t for one minute ever forget your role in all of this.’"

That phone call will appear even more significant for Morris if Lampard finishes his first year in management with victory at Wembley on Monday.