Rooney’s pledge

WAYNE ROONEY remains committed to staying on as Derby County’s manager in League One next season ‘as long as Derby are a fully functioning club’.

According to sources close to the former England captain, Rooney is happy to try to take Derby straight back to the Championship as long as the club’s takeover is completed and he has funds to improve his squad. Derby have been in administration for eight months, operating under a transfer embargo as American businessman Chris Kirchner continues to attempt to complete a proposed takeover. Kirchner, given a 48-hour extension yesterday, has until midnight on Monday to finalise his purchase or else administrators Quantuma will seek other bidders.

Last night Kirchner tweeted: ‘Owning this club will be done from afar. ‘The club isn’t out of money yet and we will be done [completing the takeover] before it is ... All is almost complete.’