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Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 07:30
The Rams manager, who has made 11 signings ahead of the Championship campaign, is happy with his budget and the support he has received in reshaping his squad following relegation.
His comments come after former chairman Peter Gadsby claimed there had not been substantial investment in transfers by the club's American owners.
Gadsby left his position as non-executive director on Friday and issued a statement yesterday morning claiming the current board had not delivered what it promised.
Rams president and chief executive Tom Glick decribed the statement as “inaccurate and irritating”.
Jewell said he could have spent more this summer if he had wanted to and revealed there is still money to spend.
But he again stressed he would not spend over the odds for players.
“Every player I have wanted has come to the club,” said Jewell. “No deal has fallen through because of wage demands or size of transfer fee, except the Ferrie Bodde one – and that was down to me. That was my call.
“I made a bid of £1.5m for Bodde, they (Swansea) wanted £2.5m.
“I felt we made a very good offer. We could have upped it but that was as high as I was prepared to go.”
Derby's board also backed Jewell's bid to go for Wigan defender Titus Bramble and striker Marlon King.
They put together a loan deal for King that would have cost a minimum £2m – £1m down and a further £1m even if they decided not to sign the player permanently at the end of the season.
The Rams were also prepared to pay the player a salary believed to be in the region of £20,000 per week.
King decided he wanted to stay in the Premier League and is close to completing a move to Hull City.
Derby have raised cash by selling Robert Earnshaw, Kenny Miller, David Jones and Craig Fagan.
“When I took the job, I was told there would be an amount of money to spend on top of what I trade,” said Jewell.
“OK, we have brought in £6m but the players we have moved on are either players who did not want to be here or I probably didn't want. I was not under pressure to sell anyone.
“We have not paid huge fees for a lot of players but, as I said, there is no such thing as a free transfer.
“The Nathan Ellington one (season-long loan from Watford) was quite expensive.
“My biggest thing in the summer was to change the mentality, the personality and the culture of the squad.
“Everything I have tried to do on that, I have been backed by the board.”
Jewell, who said the statement from Gadsby was not helpful, added: “I would rather talk about football than politics but, as far as I am concerned, I am very comfortable with my working parameters. In fact, I am more than happy with them.”
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