Time to talk after Rams complete survival mission
HERO WAGHORN IS ONE OF OUT-OF-CONTRACT PLAYERS
WAYNE Rooney will discuss the futures of Derby County’s out-ofcontract players and also those who have been on loan with the Rams this season.
The current deal of Saturday’s two-goal hero in the 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday, Martyn Waghorn, is up this summer.
Defenders Andre Wisdom and Curtis Davies are also coming to the end of their contracts.
“I’ll speak to Waggy over the next few days about what we do moving forward,” said Rooney, who also confirmed the club would look at the situation of Wisdom and Davies.
Wisdom missed the final three matches through injury but the 28-year-old has made 40 appearances during the campaign including 37 starts.
Davies made a surprise appearance as a late substitute against Sheffield Wednesday.
The 36-year-old had been ruled out for the season after rupturing an Achilles tendon in the goalless draw away against Brentford in December.
“What comes next for me, I don’t know, but to be back out there and be able to help my team-mates meant everything, and if that’s my last act as a Derby player then I’ll leave on a positive note,” said Davies after Saturday’s game.
The future at Derby of the three could also depend on the proposed takeover and the budget available to Rooney ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
Scott Carson, Scott Malone and Florian Jozefzoon are also out of contract and will leave the club.
Carson has been on loan with Manchester City for a second season, Malone has been with Millwall and looks set to join the Lions as a free agent this summer, while Jozefzoon spent the season with Rotherham United, who have been relegated to League One.
Derby had six players on loan Matt Clarke from Brighton, Teden Mengi from Manchester United, Lee
Gregory from Stoke City, Patrick Roberts from Manchester City, George Edmundson from Rangers and Beni Baningime from Everton.
Mengi looks set to return on loan next season while Derby are also showing interest in Gregory, who scored three goals in 11 games before being ruled out by a hamstring problem.
How Brighton & Hove Albion see the future of Clarke remains to be seen. He has had two season-long loans at Derby.
Rooney has stressed the importance of sorting out the Rams offthe-field issues ahead of next season.
Uncertainty remains over the future ownership of the Rams as a proposed takeover rumbles on.
No Limits Sports Ltd, owned by Spanish businessman Erik Alonso, wants to buy the club but are still awaiting EFL approval more than a month after it was announced that a definitive agreement to purchase the club had been reached.
Rooney is clear in his mind what is needed.
“We need clarity, especially the fans, on what’s going on,” he said.
“It’s been difficult, I know that. I know what’s going on in terms of how we’re looking to move forward, but it needs to happen quick because we can’t afford to allow this club to be in the position we’ve been in this season.
“It needs to get sorted out as soon as possible. I’m sure it will – we’re in a place where it looks like it’s going that way – but it has to happen quickly.
“We cannot have any more messups, no more messing around.
“It has to happen. I’ve had plans in place for Championship (football)
next season, League One next season, I’ve had a lot of work done.
“My pre-season is done, my (preseason) fixtures are done. Everything is done.
“But we need everything to be sorted out from the point of view of people above me to make sure it allows me to do the job to the best of my ability.”
Rooney admits it has been frustrating in recent months.
“I’m sure you know I put a front on as well to keep that away from the players. I’ve had to do that,” he said.
“Now we can all take a step back, settle down and now I can say it needs to be sorted out, for the fans, everybody involved at the football club.
“We have to get it sorted to allow me, to allow my coaches to give ourselves the best chance of moving this club forward.”