Direction is agreed after long talk, says Rooney
WAYNE Rooney says he and the prospective new owner of Derby County are “moving in the same direction”.
The Rams announced last week that a definitive agreement to purchase the club had been reached with No Limits Sports Limited, subject to EFL approval.
No Limits Sports is owned by Spanish businessman Erik Alonso.
Rooney and Alonso have spoken, as the manager revealed last week.
Rooney has again been asked about his discussions with Alonso.
“I had a very long conversation with him and the plans for the club, that is something we will keep private,” he said at his pre-match press conference for tomorrow’s Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers.
“What is important is we are both moving in the same direction and we are working very hard to make sure the plans which I have on players I want to bring in, we are working very hard to make sure we put that in place for when the (transfer) window opens.”
In November, Derby announced that a takeover deal had been agreed in principle with Derventio Holdings but that collapsed and now the club appears to be on the verge of being purchased by No Limits Sports.
Asked how unsettling or distracting the ownership issue has been for him this season, Rooney said: “I am not going to make excuses.
“For me, my job is to focus on the team and on the players I have, on trying to get those players to get results, and what happens above me, that happens.
“Of course I would have liked things done quicker, but from my point of view I have to focus on the players and making sure they are right for each game we go into.”
Alonso said recently his “eventual goal” is to take the club to the Champions’ League.
Asked about the comment, Rooney said: “I think that’s what we all want, we want to be playing in the Premier League and in the Champions’ League but, at the minute, our focus is on staying in this division.
“That is where we are at, we have to be realistic and then once we stay in this league this season we can start planning for how we try and have a play-off push or try and have a push for promotion next season.” ■ TV pundit Keith Andrews, speaking on the latest edition of Sky Sports’ EFL Podcast, has said he did not think releasing news of the proposed takeover before the deal is done was helpful.
“No optimism from me, I’ll be entirely honest. These reports do my head in, they really do,” he said.
“Unless it’s done, talking about it and what if this? What if that? Wayne Rooney has to come out and talk about it post-match obviously, it’s just something he doesn’t need.
“He’s got enough on his plate at the moment trying to steer Derby County towards safety in what’s been a hell of a tough job for him in his first managerial role.
“I think overall, he’s done quite well, but in the last six, eight weeks, players have looked fatigued, there’s a lack of depth and strength in key areas. It’s been a difficult gig.
“Derby County need to go in a different direction in terms of ownership, whether it’s going be this fella or not. I have no idea.”