Players I want to stay will stay

ROONEY CONFIRMED AS RAMS MANAGER AND CONFIDENT TAKEOVER WILL BE COMPLETED AND THE NEW BOSS IMMEDIATELY SETS OUT PLANS FOR REMAINDER OF JANUARY WINDOW

DERBY County boss Wayne Rooney has delivered a firm message over his plans for the remainder of the January transfer window.

Rooney has been appointed manager on a two-and-a-half year deal and is keen to add to the squad as the Rams look to move out of the Championship’s bottom three.

With the takeover of the club still not completed and some of the players and senior staff still awaiting their wages for December, reports have circulated that Derby might need to sell some of their talented Academy products.

But Rooney has made thoughts clear.

“I know which players I want at his this football club, which players are already here, which players will stay here and which players I would like to bring in,” he said.

“I have already made my targets clear who I would like to come in.

“Of course, it’s football, players might go out and I am trying to build a team which I feel can challenge in this league, and to get out of this league.

“I saw the reports on the younger players leaving, that is not the case. The players I want to stay at this club will stay.”

Rooney says being appointed Rams manager is a “real honour”.

He had been interim manager for nine games, the Rams winning three, drawing four and losing two.

“When I first arrived back in the United Kingdom I was completely blown away by the potential of

Derby County Football Club,” said Rooney, who has officially retired as a player.

“The stadium, training ground, the quality of the playing staff, the young players coming through and, of course, the fan base that remained loyal and supportive.

“Despite other offers, I knew instinctively Derby County was the place for me.

“To be given the opportunity to follow the likes of Brian Clough, Jim Smith, Frank Lampard and Phillip Cocu is such an honour.

“I can promise everyone in involved in the club and all our fans, my staff and I will leave no stone unturned in achieving the potential I have witnessed over the last 12 months of this historic football club.”

And Rooney is confident the takeover of the club will be completed. The protracted sale of the club to Derventio Holdings, a company owned by Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan, remains ongoing after months of negotiations.

“The one thing I cannot control is what is happening with the takeover, that is obviously in the hands of the board and the new potential owners,” Rooney added.

“So that is on them, they have to deal with that and get that sorted.

“The one thing I can control is how the players prepare (for matches), how they train, and that is my message to the players.

“We can only control what we do on the training ground and on match-day, and we have to trust everything else at board level will get done and put in place for us.”