RICHARD CUSACK

Shares his views on Derby County

DERBY County interim boss Liam Rosenior is beefing up his squad with plenty of know-how and experience this summer.

Of the 10 new players Derby have now signed this summer, six of them are 30 and above while one turned 29 this month.

Joe Wildsmith and Haydon Roberts are 26 and 20 respectively, with Rosenior signing the latter on loan – it was Derby’s first temporary signing for 18 months.

By contrast, the starting team against Queens Park Rangers in April last season, the game Derby lost and with it their Championship status, contained only four players over the age of 28.

Interestingly, the two teams automatically promoted from League One last season were among the oldest.

Only Wycombe Wanderers had a squad that was older than Wigan Athletic’s on average, while Rotherham United’s was the fifth oldest in the division.

AFC Wimbledon, Doncaster Rovers and Crewe Alexandra accounted for three of the League’s five youngest teams and were all relegated.

So, it appears that know-how and experience is crucial to surviving and thriving in League One.

The average age of Derby’s squad last year was 24, compared to Wigan’s 27.5 and the Latics finished as League One champions.

With James Collins now arriving and Dale Stephens expected to become Derby’s next signing, at 31 and 33 respectively, Rosenior continues to add players who have vast experience in the game.

Derby’s key shift towards bringing in players who are more experienced and will be able to adapt to League One, supplementing the quality youth already at the club, is setting the club up for an exciting season.

“Our away form, at times, last season wasn’t great,” said Rosenior.

“It wasn’t the fault of the players in the team, they were inexperienced and to win games and be where we want to be, you need a little bit of know-how and experience.

“When the game becomes a fight in January and February, you need players who have been there and done it.

“They have all achieved promotions in their careers and that was important to me.

“(The young players) have superb role models in that dressing room and we are going to improve them as well.”

Certainly, the worries of only a month ago when the club were still on the brink and heading into a new season with only a handful of contracted players, are gone.