Curbishley’s warning to those aiming for way out of League One
GREGORY LINKED WITH RETURN TO RAMS TO HELP PUSH FOR RETURN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
LEAGUE One will be “very difficult” to escape from next season, according to former West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley.
He thinks it will be a tough tier to earn promotion from for relegated Derby County – and everybody else hoping to climb up to the Championship – because of the number of clubs playing there who have all dropped down from the Premier League at some point over the years.
One of those clubs is Charlton Athletic, who Curbishley used to manage, while Bolton Wanderers, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland are among those who have all enjoyed life at the top table.
Sunderland could remain in the division if they fail to beat Wycombe Wanderers in today’s League One play-off final (3pm).
Barnsley, another club with Premier League experience, dropped down from the Championship alongside the Rams.
And Curbishley sees a tough battle ahead in the third tier next season.
“When I last looked at the League One table, there were 10 former Premier League clubs in that division,” said Curbishley in an interview for a betting website.
“It’s so difficult to get out of. We’ve seen Sheffield Wednesday fall short and you just need to take a look at Sunderland over the past few years, although they have a chance this year in the play-offs.
“The teams coming down as well, such as Derby, makes the division very difficult to get out of.”
DERBY County have been linked with Sheffield Wednesday striker Lee Gregory, who spent part of the 2020-21 season on loan with the Rams.
The Daily Mail have speculated that the Rams are one of three clubs “keen” on landing the 33-year-old when the transfer window opens, providing Chris Kirchner’s takeover is completed.
Gregory spent six months on loan from Stoke City in the 2020-21 season, scoring three goals in 11 appearances as Wayne Rooney’s men avoided relegation.
He joined the Owls on a permanent basis last summer, signing a two-year deal at Hillsborough.
He has played 39 times in all competitions this season, scoring 17 goals, including one in the play-off semi-final defeat against Sunderland.
Looking ahead to the upcoming transfer window, Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri told the Sheffield Star: “I have not heard anything at the moment – but I don’t know what will happen this summer.
“It depends what interest we get in our players.
“If we get offers for players that we can’t refuse and we believe we can replace them, then we will make a decision. If we don’t get good offers or we don’t believe we can do better, then we need to weigh things up.”
Gregory has only one year remaining on his contract so Wednesday are not expected to ask for a big fee for the striker.
Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic are also said to be interested.
PRESTON North End forward Tom Barkhuizen, who has been linked with Derby County, says he is looking forward to what the future holds after his release from the Lilywhites was confirmed.
The 28-year-old has been at Deepdale for five-and-a-half years but is available on a free transfer this summer.
The Rams are one of three clubs said to be interested, along with newly-promoted Championship side Rotherham United and League One outfit Bolton Wanderers.
The forward has reflected on his time at Deepdale.
“The last five and a half years have changed my life and I’ve made some brilliant friends along the way,” Barkhuizen wrote on Instagram.
“Looking forward to what the future holds this summer. Thanks for the memories.”
Although under a transfer embargo, the Rams can sign free agents such as Barkhuizen.
DERBY County are understood to be interested in signing striker Luke Molyneux on a free transfer this
summer but it appears his current club, Hartlepool United, have not given up hope of keeping him.
The Rams have been linked with a move for in the past week.
Manager Wayne Rooney is eager to build a squad capable of winning promotion from League One next season and it has been speculated that he has targeted the 24-year-old.
Molyneux is also believed to have attracted interest from League One club Portsmouth after scoring 12 goals last season in League Two.
Hartlepool are in talks with the player over a new deal but if nothing an be agree,d he will be available as a free agent.
When Hartlepool issued their retained list, five players were designated as under “offers of re-engagement” and Molyneux was among them.