Neil Davidson, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Having played for nine teams across the Atlantic, Paul Peschisolido can be considered a bit of an expert when it comes to English soccer.

And the now retired striker believes fellow Canadian Brett Wilson chose wisely in investing in Derby County. Wilson was part of an international consortium that bought the club in January. But the identity of some of its members has only filtered out recently.

"If I had that kind of money to spend, I think it definitely would be the club I looked at. Without a shadow of a doubt," Peschisolido, a 37-year-old native of Pickering, Ont., said Wednesday from Birmingham. "Because the infrastructure's there. You've probably got one of the nicest stadiums in the (Football) Championship, the training ground is probably (up there with) one of the top 10, 15 within the Premier League. Literally you're buying a club that's ready-made. it's just a matter of getting the team right and getting yourself in the Premier League because you've got the core crowd there as well.

"It would be a great investment. It's even got history."

Derby won the English championship twice in the '70s and also competed in the European and UEFA Cup.

Wilson, a native of North Battleford, Sask., is co-founder of Calgary's FirstEnergy Capital Corp. He's also known as a panellist on the CBC-TV show "Dragons' Den" which showcases would-be entrepreneurs competing for financing.

He says he is the largest single shareholder in the C$96 million Derby investment.

Peschisolido played for Derby from 2004 to 2007, helping the club climb into the Premier League in his final year. It proved to be a short, painful stay in the top flight of English soccer, however, and Derby returned to the Football Championship after gaining a record low 11 points in the Premiership with a 1-29-8 record and a goal difference of minus-69.

Still the Derby fans, whom Peschisolido calls probably the best within the Championship, have stayed faithful to the cause.

"The supporters didn't care," said Peschisolido, noting the team still has 21,000 season ticket-holders.

Peschisolido's wife Karren Brady is managing director of Birmingham City and the couple was at Derby on Sept. 30 to see the Rams draw 1-1 with Birmingham in a game that drew 29,743 to Pride Park.

Derby, who drew 33,010 for its home opener against Doncaster in August, currently sits 15th in the 24-team Championship with a 3-3-4 record.

"Fabulous stadium, fabulous training ground, And with support like that, can go no wrong really," Peschisolido said.

Under manager Paul Jewell, the team stumbled out of the gate with an 0-3-1 record this season but has since gone unbeaten in six games.

Peschisolido had an interesting time of it in his four years at Derby. The team staved off relegation from the Football Championship in his first season, lost out in the promotion playoffs in the second, almost got relegated in the third and won promotion to the Premier League in the fourth.

"I had an absolutely fabulous time there," he recalled. "To be honest, I still go back because I've got a real good affinity with the supporters. As far as my career goes, it was probably one of the happiest times."

Newly retired after an injury-plagued season with Luton, the former Canadian international is earning his coaching licences, working on a soccer academy and looking to develop new talent. He held a camp in his native Pickering this summer and is looking to come back next year, with another one planned for the Vancouver area.

Peschisolido, who had four British coaches helping him in Canada this summer, brings in teams and their coaches to work with them. He hopes to improve talent and ultimately help showcase it in Europe.

Peschisolido is already coaching his 10-year-old son's soccer team - he also has a 12-year-old daughter with Brady - and plans on remaining in the game.

"When it's something you've done your whole life, it's very difficult to just go cold turkey on it and I'm finding that now. If coaching job or managing jobs were to come along, then I'd have to seriously consider them."

The five-foot-seven forward played for Canada 53 times at the senior level.