Away clash postponed as Rams, Bluebirds hit by Covid
ROONEY SAYS HE COULD NOT FILL HIS SQUAD FOR GAME IN CARDIFF
DERBY County’s Championship clash against Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow has been postponed.
The Rams issued the following statement: “The clubs informed the EFL that they would be unable to fulfil the fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases in their squad.
“In light of the increased transmission rate of the Omicron variant, the EFL will now review the circumstances surrounding the postponement.
“In addition, it will assist affected clubs throughout this challenging period to help them mitigate against the risk of infection amongst players and staff, while ensuring their obligations to the EFL regulations are maintained.
“The clubs and the EFL will now enter dialogue to agree a new match date and this will be communicated to supporters once this has been confirmed.
“Supporters that purchased a ticket for the game should note that these will be valid for the rearranged date. Any individual requesting a refund should contact the Ticket Office on Ticket.office@ dcfc.co.uk and a member of staff will provide assistance as soon as possible.
“Supporters that purchased a Ramstv streaming pass for the game should note that this will be valid for the re-arranged fixture date and does NOT need to be purchased again. Refund requests and other stream related queries should be directed to derbytvsupport@streamamg.com.”
A number of players missed the Rams’ home victory over Blackpool last Saturday due to a Covid outbreak and there have been more cases since.
“Unfortunately, we have had a few more cases, players and staff,” said Rams manager Wayne Rooney.
“Basically our medical team has been wiped out and we have had more players get it.”
Rooney said in training yesterday he could not fill his squad for Saturday.
“It is frustrating, of course, but it is unprecedented times with Covid,” he added.
RAY Parlour has backed Derby County manager Wayne Rooney to succeed Rafael Benitez if the Everton boss is dismissed following the club’s poor run of form.
Rooney is reportedly in Everton’s thoughts, according to The Sun.
The 36-year-old started his career at Everton before he was sold to Manchester United. He returned to Goodison Park for a second spell before he signed for DC United in the MLS.
Rooney joined Derby as playercoach in January 2020 and retired from playing after being appointed permanent manager of the Rams in January this year.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes Rooney would be a good fit for the Everton job amid speculation surrounding Benitez’s future.
“Rooney has done the best he can with the resources he’s got,” Parlour told TALKSPORT.
“He’s got Everton in his heart, that’s where he started his career. So that wouldn’t be a bad fit for me.
“I think that would probably work.”
Rooney has had a tough baptism in management but he has impressed in the way he has handled a difficult situation at Derby.
The club has been operating under a transfer embargo, is in administration and is bottom of the Championship having had 21 points deducted this season.
Rooney has said a number of times he is fully committed to the task of turning the club’s fortunes around.
Basically our medical team has been wiped out, and we have had more players get it. Wayne Rooney