SILENCE OF THE RAMS

Warnock: Derby could have appointed me three years ago... but I heard nothing. If they had... they wouldn’t be in this situation now

NEIL WARNOCK reckons he would have solved Derby’s problems had he only been appointed three years ago.

Warnock was in the reckoning as boss when Gary Rowett saw the early signs of the financial meltdown at Pride Park and left for Stoke in May 2018.

But instead of appointing Warnock after talks with him, owner Mel Morris (right) went for Frank Lampard.

The Chelsea legend took Derby to Wembley, where they lost to Aston Villa in the Championsip play-off final, before returning to Stamford Bridge as boss.

But veteran Middlesbrough gaffer Warnock says Morris would have been quids in with him.

Morris gambled on getting into the Premier League but has failed in six years of ownership and Derby are in chaos, struggling to pay their way and under a transfer embargo. Manager Wayne Rooney is fighting to keep the club afloat and claims even firefighters such as Warnock and Sam Allardyce would not take on basket-case Derby.

Warnock, 72, agrees and he said: “Wayne said that even experienced managers like Big

Sam or me wouldn’t take this on at Derby.

“No, I wouldn’t.

“Three years ago I would have when Mel made the mistake of not giving me the job. Serves him right.

“I should have been coming and then he wouldn’t have been in this situation, would he?”

Warnock has eight promotions to his name, four of them into the top flight, and added: “What’s happening at Derby is not that different to what I’ve got at Middlesbrough – no money, looking for free transfers and loans.

“Wayne’s got no experience at all to rely on as a manager, I understand that. But I think that might be better for him.

“An experienced manager might pull his hair out. But Wayne looks as if he’s enjoying it from what I saw on the bench in this game.”

Rooney is making a decent fist of it with one defeat in four league games following this dour draw.

It might have been better for him when Max Bird escaped for a shot (below) but Boro keeper Joe Lumley was equal to it.

Phil Jagielka, 39, on his home debut, had a big say in Derby getting a point.

Rooney said: “I trust in myself and my capabilities to manage the team.

“I know Jagielka from Everton, Ravel Morrison from Manchester United. Sam Baldock has played with my coach Liam Rosenior. We’ve used our contacts to get in the players who can get the job done.”