LAMPS’ DERBY BLUES

Blues boss demands league hits all overspending clubs after Birmingham lost points

GARRY MONK says the EFL must come down hard on all overspending Championship sides and dock them points as they did with Birmingham.

The Blues boss has his first game tonight since City lost nine points for breaching profit and sustainability rules, having run up debts of £48.8million over a threeyear period from 2015-2018.

They have fallen from 13th in the table to 18th – just five points above the drop zone. Monk has taken the punishment on the chin and Birmingham are not appealing.

But he demanded other clubs who overspend chasing the Premier League are hit too.

“Those rules and regulations are there for a reason,” he said ahead of tonight’s visit to West FRANK LAMPARD insists Derby’s slump is not down to his links with the Chelsea manager’s job.

Derby have slipped out of the top six of the Championship after a run of one win in seven matches.

It has coincided with Chelsea legend Lampard (right) being installed as second favourite for the Brom. “If there is a situation where a club faces that, then you hope for consistency. That has to happen and I am sure it will.

“That’s what governing bodies and associations are there for, to set those guidelines and implications if clubs fall foul of them.

“I’m sure they will do that within the organisation and whatever cases come up in the future.”

Monk took charge only 12 months ago and has been picking up the pieces since predecessors Harry Redknapp and Gianfranco Zola cranked up the wage bill to Stamford Bridge job if Maurizio Sarri goes.

But Lampard insisted: “Does it affect me? Absolutely not because I have a three-year contract here.

“I am planning recruitment in the summer, and before that planning for promotion. It is all rumour. It doesn’t affect the players at all.” HOW THEY STAND