Paul Warne says the saddest part of Derby County’s glorious promotion is that he will have to “rip the team apart” to prepare it for the Championship next season.
The Rams head coach is braced for further meetings this week to discuss the club’s plans moving forward and what it will need in the transfer market as they prepare to return to the second tier.
Warne has a lot of tough decisions to make concerning the squad with players such as Louie Sibley, Korey Smith, Joe Wildsmith and Liam Thompson out of contract and available to leave the club this summer. Another round of meetings will take place next week when the retained list will be drawn up before the transfer window opens later this summer.
Derby County have made a triumphant return to the Championship, and we want you to join us to celebrate their achievements.
Our Man At The Rams, Leigh Curtis has penned a 48-page special souvenir edition of the Derby Telegraph which is completely dedicated to the remarkable change in fortunesof the club.
A club that has gone from the brink of extinction – to a glorious promotion.
Leigh follows the journey of the season and how a David Clowes owned Derby side managed to rebuild from the Ashes after narrowly missing out in the first season under the new owner and manager Paul Warne.
This season has had drama with highs and lows galore – all culminating in those incredible scenes on the pitch after the game against Carlisle United.
Pride Park was awash with joyous scenes at the final whistle as supporters stormed the pitch to celebrate their first promotion since Billy Davies guided the Rams to the Premier League in 2007.
It’s all in our special edition – which is on sale now for £3.50
Warne says Derby have put lists together for players who may be of interest but the Championship list will be more populated when their season ends this weekend. Ebou Adams remains a player of interest but claims that Derby are preparing a £250,000 bid for the Cardiff midfielder are premature given the Bluebirds’ season has yet to finish. Talks will begin soon, however.
Better Premier League loans will also be available to them as a result of their promotion and Derby will not go gung-ho in the transfer market having learned from their expensive lessons from the past. Warne says he is striving to add athleticism and a goal threat to the team in a division that he says is the best “it’s been in years”.
“We’ve had a few conversations,” Warne told Derbyshire Live in his post-match press conference. “We’ve been trying to prepare a Championship list and a League One list and we still don’t know what other players can come on it because the Championship still has time left.
“Then you need to see who is available. I’ve got a meeting next week (this week) about funds and where we sit. The saddest thing about promotion is that when you do it I will have to rip the team apart. That’s the truth. We have to build a better team because the Championship is the best it has been in years.
“It’s been the best league out of all four from an excitement point of view. We do need change, we need more athleticism which I have been harping on about for ages. We need more goal threat and we need a lot. Any team that doesn’t need to do that must have got 110 points.”
