HAD it been Derby, you suspect it is not a comparison that Stuart Pearce would have been able to bring himself to make.
But, as the new manager looks to build his own empire at Nottingham Forest, he admits he does not have to look too far for inspiration.
When Pearce casts his eye across the East Midlands – to Leicester, rather than the more fierce of their local rivals, the Rams – he is convinced he finds the right formula for Championship success.
This time 12 months ago, speculation was rife that Nigel Pearson was going to be sacked by the Foxes.
But, instead, the club's ambitious owners were rewarded for their patience as City powered their way into the Premier League.
And, as Pearce looks to find a way to take Forest on the same journey, he sees no issue in taking a leaf out of the book of the two sides who were promoted, in Leicester and Burnley.
"We need to look at our near neighbours. I spoke to the squad and the staff at the back end of last season and we said that, if we need a pointer of where we want to be and what we want to achieve, we only have to look at Leicester and Burnley," he says.
"They got themselves up. Nigel built a group, right on our doorstep, that has got into the Premier League. It took him two or three years and the owners there had to be patient with him, particularly last summer.
"They kept Nigel in place and it was similar with Burnley. They got up through team spirit.
"They have a good manager and a good spirit and one or two of their players excelled last year.
"They sent out the message to the rest of the league that you do not have to spend loads of money.
"You just have to have that team spirit and that desire to work for each other, to get out of this league."
In terms of team spirit and unity, Pearce does not feel that is an issue at Forest.
While he may not admit it himself, his return as manager is only likely to galvanise a spirit among both players and supporters, as they embark on another Championship season.
So what is the key, in Pearce's eyes?
"Momentum is massive. That is the case. You need to get off to a good start and then carry that momentum on," he says.
"You need to have an honest squad who enjoy working with each other.
"The Championship is tough to get out of and there will be a lot of teams who will have aspirations that are above where they should be.
"We need to galvanise the supporters and make sure there is that feel-good factor here that I was fortunate enough to enjoy as a player.
"We need to make sure that the academy players feel as though there is a path from the academy into the first-team."
On that front, Pearce has taken one significant step by clearing out the old first team training building, right next to the main centre at the Nigel Doughty academy, as a new base for the club's youth team.
And here, again, he believes there is a comparison to be made with their local rivals.
"They are next door now. But we need to make sure they are loved for and cared for by a senior manager, in myself," he said.
"We are behind Leicester, with regards to recruitment, that is for sure.
"We need to get better at that, when it comes to the young players within our catchment area.
"That is something that we have to build, behind the scenes.
"It is crucial that you see young players coming through the academy to get into your first team.
"We have to make sure that we get more (Jamaal) Lascelles and people of that ilk coming through. It was big for me at Manchester City.
"I brought the likes of Micah Richards, Nedum Onuoha and Steven Ireland through. They came through our system.
"They were the lifeblood of Manchester City before the money came along. This football club has to see that as well.
"We need to build a strong academy system, that is above Derby and Leicester. At the minute we feel as though we are not there."
One thing that Forest do have in place is a solid backroom staff. Steve Wigley and Brian Eastick will support Pearce as assistants, while Tim Flowers has joined as goalkeeper coach.
And Pearce says their support will be invaluable.
"I have been fortunate that, firstly, there were a lot of vacancies for us to fill and, secondly, that I had a ready made staff who wanted to come and join me, who I have worked with over a number of years," he says. "I have people I respect and who will help me do my job.
"Steve Wigley is a better coach than I am, for example. I have Brian who is a good coach as well, but is also a fantastic general manager type person as well.
"Tim Flowers has joined me, we have not worked together since Manchester City, but he is a fantastic goalkeeping coach.
"I have some really good people here, to help me out.
"They will all chip in towards running the club. I am not the sort of person who believes I am all things to all people.
"I would rather get people in who are better than me at certain things that are perhaps not my forte.
"I will readily admit that. I will let Steve run the training because he is better at doing it than I am. There will be times when I dip into it, particularly in the build up to match days.
"But you have to realise that there are people there for you and you have to trust them to do their jobs."
Pearce, when pushed, admits that man management is probably his forte; his strength within the management team.
"I don't think there is anyone on my staff who is better at it, in my opinion," he says.
"But I do touch on every aspect that a manager has to. I do like to coach, I like to get involved with the players. But football management is so diverse now.
"You have to manage upwards as well; you have to have a good relationship with your chairman and the people who work for him.
"But, overall, this a great challenge at a great club for me."
The challenge, then, is to match the achievements of Leicester.
And, if Pearce can do that, then no Forest fans will be upset at following in the footsteps of one of their biggest rivals.
