Derby forced to slash wage bill

Derby County are confident of avoiding punishment by the English Football League, despite Birmingham City’s nine-point deduction last Friday for breaches of the new spending rules.

Derby, however, will have no option but to slash their wage bill again this summer if manager Frank Lampard fails to achieve promotion to the Premier League, in a bid to control costs and ensure they do not face sanctions.

Birmingham became the first club to be punished under the new profitability and sustainability rules, with the EFL sanction subject to an appeal. The Championship club incurred losses of nearly £49 million – almost £10 million more than the accepted £39million over a three-year period – and are facing a relegation battle with eight games left to play.

Derby were another Championship club thought to be facing potential punishment, as they have spent significantly over the past four years in a bid to reach the top flight, while it is understood they have been losing up to £2million a month.

But insiders at Pride Park insist they will be operating within the financial limits and do not fear sanctions over the summer, based on current submissions to the EFL. said Mccarthy. “There was a lot that pleased me tonight, a lot of good individual performances but also as a team.”

Having struggled against Gibraltar in his first game, Ireland played with far more authority against a Georgia side who would be dangerous if they had a decent striker.

The tennis-ball distraction worked in the home side’s favour. With the last of them being cleared away by the stewards at one end, Hourihane stroked a beautiful freekick home at the other.

“It was balls,” said Mccarthy with a smile. “I was worried it would affect our concentration, but he wasn’t stopping that free-kick. I’d rather they didn’t do it, but it didn’t disrupt anything, I thought the atmosphere was terrific.” Republic of Ireland Georgia Booked Referee