Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce is now having to fill two key roles in his backroom team following the departures of Phil Brown and Neil McDonald.

Brown ended a 17 year association with Wanderers on Friday to manage Derby County.

The Reebok assistant manager has agreed a three-year contract with the Rams.

Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, flew back from a business trip to Australia overnight to negotiate the details of a compensation package with 46-year-old Brown allowed to fulfil his long-standing ambition to land his first managerial role.

For Wanderers, however, it means Sam Allardyce is now having to fill two key roles in his backroom team following the earlier departure of his first team coach McDonald, who hasjoined Crystal Palace as assistant manager to Iain Dowie.

There has been speculation that Allardyce will turn to Peter Reid, his former Bolton team-mate and close friend, who is available after leaving Coventry last season. Jimmy Phillips, another long-serving loyalist who has coached the youth and reserve teams, could be lined up for a promotion but Wanderers are refusing to comment on backroom developments.

Brown, who has worked alongside Allardyce for more than seven years - two seasons as Blackpool and the last five and a half at the Reebok - flew back from a family holiday in Portugal on Thursday to accept Derby's offer.

He was given the keys to the Rams training ground and was finally able to press ahead with his plans for next season.

"I've been groomed and I'm ready for this," Brown said as he prepared to take charge of the club that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premiership last season, finishing fourth in the Championship and losing to Preston in the play-off semi-finals.

"I can't thank Sam for what he's done for me over the last seven or eight years and for not standing in my way.

"I can't wait to get started."