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      Chelsea icon Frank Lampard almost ‘pulled his phone out’ to sort transfers after seeing state of Derby dressing room

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      FRANK LAMPARD has revealed the extent to which he had to get his hands dirty to bring in players at Derby.The Chelsea legend was in charge at the Rams for a season before taking the reins at his beloved Blues.
      Lampard in the Derby hotseat before his move to ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Such was the state of the Derby squad in 2018 when Lampard met owner Mel Morris, he thought he was going to have to tap up some promising Chelsea youngsters ‘there and then’.
      Lampard told the All To Play For podcast: “When I went up to see Mel the first time after taking the job, we had all the players on the tactics board in the manager’s room.
      “(Andreas) Weimann was there, a good quick player with an eye for goal, then Mel said he’s off to Bristol.
      “Then (Matej) Vydra, one of the best players in the Championship the year before, Mel says he’s definitely going too.
      “I looked at it and thought I need to get a couple of loans in as soon as possible and nearly took my phone out there and then.”

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      The Chelsea connection eventually told as Lampard brought in the emerging Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori to inject some youth into his Derby side.
      He added: “Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Fikayo Tomori brought in a lot of energy and enthusiasm for us but I did also realise I underestimated the rest of the squad.
      “The likes of Nugent, Keogh, Bryson and Johnson, I found them all to be fantastic professionals and excellent players.”
      One of Lampard’s former England team-mates Wayne Rooney is now at the Derby helm as they face further challenges.
      The team have entered administration and been docked 12 points by the EFL, with club officials blaming Covid for ruining club finances.
      Chelsea’s Rudiger gets megged twice and Romelu Lukaku can’t stop laughing More

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      Wayne Rooney’s Derby players to be asked if they can have pay DELAYED amid club’s financial crisis

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      WAYNE ROONEY’S Derby players will be asked to accept a pay DELAY to help the crisis-stricken club.The Rams plunged from 12th to bottom of the Championship on minus two points on Wednesday — having been docked 12 points for entering administration.
      Derby boss Wayne Rooney has vowed to help his stars amid the crisisCredit: Rex
      Rams insiders revealed that funds are low at the bank after owner Mel Morris’ reign and it will be a major effort to cover  payroll for the next few months.
      Derby appointed administrators Quantuma to run the club as they try to find a buyer.
      A request will be made for the squad to allow the Rams to hold back a chunk of their salaries — around a third — rather than be paid in full at the end of the month.
      That will be a blow for the new faces in Rooney’s group, who signed on the maximum £4,500-a-week wage the club were allowed to pay under EFL restrictions.
      Some will see their salary temporarily reduced to around £3,000 a week in the first major cutback measure at Pride Park.
      The players may have no option but to accept this deferral plan, while Derby hope the EFL will also give it the green light rather than add a three-point penalty for late payments.
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      Overall the payroll saving would work out at around £400,000 a month.
      This money would be returned once a new buyer for the club is in place.
      Defender Curtis Davies, 36, reckons the players are lucky to have boss Rooney in this crisis.
      He said: “He’s a born winner. Obviously  it would be easy for him to walk away.
      Wayne didn’t need it in the summer when he couldn’t sign the players he wanted — but he’s willing to stand by us.Curtis Davies
      “But he’s in the meetings and he’s telling us, ‘I’ll stand in front of you, I’ll back you all the way. I’ll be the main one to take on any flak, any questions, whatever needs to be done.  I’ll be in the trenches with you’.
      “The biggest compliment you can give Wayne is he doesn’t need it.
      “He didn’t need it in the summer when he couldn’t sign the players he wanted — but he’s willing to stand by us. That shows how much he wants to succeed in management.”

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      Wayne Rooney reacts to the news Derby County is heading into administration More

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      Ex-Derby owner Mel Morris reveals he blew £200M trying to get club into Prem before putting them into administration

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      MEL MORRIS revealed he blew over £200MILLION trying to take Derby to the Premier League – before putting them into administration.Ex-owner Morris admitted his time was a ‘failure’ in his own eyes but also warned that football was running out of people like him willing to pay ‘£3m cheques every month’.
      Morris spent big in Derby’s pursuit of the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Morris opened up about his shock decision to put Wayne Rooney’s team into admin and said: “It is not something we entered into lightly.
      “There wasn’t a long-term sustainable position without a purchase.
      “I was going to run out of money completely, every asset I’ve got. You have got to pick a moment. And we have people interested.
      “I wanted to find a purchaser for the club and that continues. Over the weekend we had in the region of 15 inquiries. In terms of serious ones there are two or three, based on reputation, who are very serious.”
      Morris feels he came close to promotion a few times, a result that would have let him sell at a profit, before the latest crash came.
      He said: “I would have sooner tried and failed than not to try at all. But financially I regret it. I have lost in excess of £200m.

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      “I won’t make any recovery on the stadium, I will work with the administrators to make sure we get the right purchaser on board.
      “I put a lot of money into the club and we have had some really good times. But ultimately I failed.”
      Morris claims that a deal was close in January 2020 before the EFL queried the sale of the stadium and reveals others wanted to buy but did not produce the money.
      He warned: “It has been horrendous. At a time of Covid it’s impossible to understand the impact that has. Do I have £30m of revenue or £10m?
      “My biggest mistake was to say I would sell the club and not look to make a profit.
      “That gave me no room to negotiate. People would come in and wait and hope the price would change.
      Morris has praised manager Wayne Rooney for keeping the team competitiveCredit: Getty
      “We are running out of owners of football clubs who will write cheques for £1m, £2m or £3m every month.”
      Morris hailed boss Rooney for his efforts in the crisis and believes the club has a future.
      He said: “This is not the end for the club, it’s an opportunity to get a purchaser on board.
      “Wayne is turning out to be an absolutely first class manager. He deserves every credit from being a player who coached to someone who now looks like a boss and is spot on.
      “He is getting the best out of a lot of these players. He will be a major asset for this club. The Stoke City game was probably his finest moment.”
      Morris also blasted the EFL for treating Derby differently when it came to a potential points penalty for failing to pay their players – and the wrangle over their Financial Fair Play issues.
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby to be handed nine point deduction this season over FFP breaches sending them bottom of Championship More

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      Wayne Rooney found out on TV Derby were going into administration with Championship club facing 24 point deduction

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      DERBY boss Wayne Rooney says he found out the club were going into administration on TV.The club announced on Friday that they had to file notice to appoint administrators with a failure to identify new owners.
      Rooney praised his side for continuing to be ‘professional’ despite the financial mess off the pitchCredit: GETTY IMAGES
      The effects of the coronavirus pandemic left the club with ‘no choice’ but to go into administration.
      And boss Rooney, 35, said he and his players found out watching Sky Sports.
      He told Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s home match with Stoke: “I’ve seen it on Sky.
      “I spoke to (chief financial officer) Stephen Pearce after but initially I saw it on the TV.
      “I have spoken to Stephen, I haven’t spoken with Mel. I am sure he has got other things on his mind.
      “The players had no information and they saw it on Sky as well.”

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      And as SunSport’s Alan Nixon exclusively revealed, the club have to pay Rooney and his players in days or see their points deduction spiral to at least 24 points.
      The Rams already have a three-point suspended punishment for late payments last season.
      The suspended punishment could kick in if Derby fail to find funds to pay this month’s pay.
      And that would go on top of the 12-point penalty for going into administration.
      Further Financial Fair Play charges are likely to add another nine points, bringing the points deduction up to an eye watering 24.
      An emotional but defiant Rooney vowed to stand by the club, fans and his players.
      Speaking after Saturday’s match, which Derby won 2-1, Rooney said: “We’re in for a tough week, I know that.
      I spoke to (chief financial officer) Stephen Pearce after but initially I saw it on the TV. Wayne Rooney
      “But to see the players putting that effort in and getting the three points was massive, and I can’t stress how proud I am of them players for that performance today.
      “I have to keep doing my job, keep preparing the players, getting them ready and again we’re going to have some tough moments, I know that, I understand that.
      “But I can’t ask for anything more than what the players have given me and I think those players will get a lot of credit for the performance and the attitude today and they deserve that.”
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby to be handed nine point deduction this season over FFP breaches sending them bottom of Championship More

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      Two Birmingham fans arrested over alleged racist abuse of Peterborough defender Nathan Thompson

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      TWO Birmingham fans have been arrested after an allegation of racist abuse aimed at Peterborough’s Nathan Thompson.The incident is alleged to have occurred during the second half of Saturday’s Championship fixture at the Weston Homes Stadium.
      Nathan Thompson reported the incident to referee Jarred GillettCredit: Getty
      England stars were subjected to vile racist abuse during the Euro’sCredit: PA
      Defender Thompson made a complaint of racist abuse from visiting fans to ref Jarred Gillett.
      Peterborough said in a statement: “Peterborough can confirm that two Birmingham supporters have been arrested following the allegation of racist abuse aimed towards defender Nathan Thompson during the second half of Saturday’s Championship fixture at the Weston Homes Stadium.
      “Thompson reported the incident straight away to the match official who spoke with the fourth official before the two individuals were identified and detained.
      “The football club condemns any form of discrimination and will work with the authorities.”
      Birmingham said in a statement the club has a “zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination”.

      The Blues added they “will continue to assist the police in their investigations” and would “firmly support the action taken against anyone found guilty of such abhorrent behaviour.”
      The Posh shook off the unsavoury incident to seal a 3-0 win over the visiting Birmingham.
      A Harlee Dean own-goal gave Peterborough the lead after just one minute.
      That was followed by a Jonson Clarke-Harris penalty before Jorge Grant wrapped up the scoring five minutes into the second half.
      It comes after three England stars who suffered racist abuse over their Euros penalty misses.
      Marcus Rashford, 21, Jadon Sancho, 20, and Bukayo Saka, 19, received vile online abuse after missing penalties in England’s Euro final shootout against Italy. 
      England captain Harry Kane, 27,  also backed the youngsters who failed to convert their penalties.
      ‘VILE ABUSE’
      The Spurs striker tweeted: “Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up & take a pen when the stakes were high.
      “They deserve support & backing and not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night. If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an England fan and we don’t want you.”
      Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel both condemned the online trolls, as well as calling for social media giants to do more.
      TV pundit and England legend Rio Ferdinand urged Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to take action.
      He tweeted: “You can bet ya last pound they would have sung the Raheem Sterling song almost bursting the veins in their bodies doing so.
      “But England lose and that joy and sense of being united immediately evaporates and our black players become the target.
      “Social media companies please can we come together in creating a way to protect people on your platforms please…. Our young heroes need your attention too!”
      England players were subjected to the abuse after stepping up to take a penaltyCredit: Getty
      There was an outpouring of support for the young starsCredit: Getty
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby to be handed nine point deduction this season over FFP breaches sending them bottom of Championship More

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      Wayne Rooney’s Derby heading into administration and twelve point deduction after owner notice amid financial crisis

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      WAYNE ROONEY’s Derby County are heading for administration after owner Mel Morris gave notice of the drastic move.The Rams will be slapped with a 12-point penalty when they go through the process which was started on Friday evening.
      Derby are heading into administrationCredit: Getty
      That massive blow for Rooney came when the club’s solicitors gave notice to the High Court that they will appoint an administrator.
      Derby confirmed the news with a statement on their official website, claiming: “This action was made necessary by a number of developments.
      “Last week, it became clear that the process which has been underway to identify a purchaser for the club likely would not be productive over the near term, despite the number of negotiations with credible parties.
      “Because the Covid-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the revenues and profits of all of its businesses, the club has been unable to service its day-to-day financial obligations.
      “The directors had no choice but to make the tough decision to take this action and protect the club.”
      An EFL statement read: “With confirmation from Derby County Football Club that they have filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, the EFL can tonight confirm that the Club will be subject to an insolvency event under the terms of the EFL’s Regulations.

      As a result, the Club faces a 12-point deduction. 
      Once the EFL has received formal notification of the application, the deduction will be applied. 
      “The EFL will in due course engage in discussions with the relevant parties with the aim of achieving a successful outcome for the long-term future for the Club.
      “The League is disappointed with the comments made by the Club in respect of COVID lending facilities.
      “The EFL entered into a debt raise to provide its Clubs with access to funds that would support them in dealing with the impact of COVID and, as with any loan, this was subject to a timeframe and eligibility criteria which Derby County was unable to meet.”
      Rooney was preparing the team for a clash with Stoke City on Saturday as Morris took the ‘nuclear option’ after months of financial battles.

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      The players will have to be paid in administration as they are football creditors and they should have their money this month.
      However, other creditors face massive losses and Morris will lose control of the club he has run for years.
      Derby have pinned their administration on the Covid-19 pandemic, claiming to have taken a £20MILLION hit on their cash flow.
      The statement continued: “The irony is that the club’s financial forecasts show the emergence of a financially sustainable picture.
      “Absent the Covid-19 pandemic, we undoubtedly would have been able to trade through.”
      “However, the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and the unpredictability it has created represents too much of a strain.
      “As the Covid-19 pandemic and lock down tightened their grip, the club’s revenues and cash flow took a circa £20m hit.
      “This season, Covid-19 has continued to have a negative effect on the club’s revenues…
      Several Derby players are out of contract in January, including Phil JagielkaCredit: PA
      “We had significantly reduced our wage bill, but the major benefit of these reductions were not going to take effect until this season.”
      Derby also highlighted the complications of selling a football club during a pandemic and blamed the EFL for not helping them.
      They club added: “The Covid-19 lockdown also meant that we were unable to have face-to-face meetings with a number of potential purchasers who could not visit the stadium or training ground.
      “A planned sale of the club and stadium that was due to close in January 2020 collapsed when the EFL was coerced into challenging the stadium sale transaction, a charge that would be dismissed some nine months later.
      “The ongoing litigation and charges in regard to the P&S regulations and the protracted timetable for this to reach a resolution, added further uncertainty and made negotiations challenging.”
      “These issues also led the EFL to preclude the club from drawing down circa £8.3m of financial assistance, as was made available to all other Championship clubs in respect of settling PAYE liabilities, further aggravating our cash flow and ability to meet our financial obligations.
      “Even today, we await the EFL’s response in these matters. This response is important to the club, its supporters and also to any prospective purchaser.”
      Wayne Rooney will not realistically be able to keep Derby up this termCredit: PA
      Derby were already facing separate points penalties for old Financial Fair Play breaches and are yet to receive their punishment from the EFL.
      Rooney’s side are expected to be slapped with a nine-point penalty, meaning they could eventually be docked 21 points with more suspended.
      It is a hammer blow for the Manchester United icon, who put a brand new squad together in the summer despite the club’s impending doom.
      Many of those, such as Phil Jagielka and Sam Baldock, are only signed until January and may not be kept on following Friday evening’s news.
      Derby have also been threatened with a two-season transfer ban if they don’t settle their transfer debts by the end of September.
      The team have made a decent start to the Championship season – considering their situation – picking up seven points from seven games.
      But the cash-strapped club are now facing relegation to League One and a descent down the English football pyramid.
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby to be handed nine point deduction this season over FFP breaches sending them bottom of Championship More

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      Carnage at Stoke against Barnsley as THREE sent off at end including coach Rory Delap in mass bust-up at side of pitch

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      THREE coaches were sensationally sent off — after a mass brawl involving both benches in the closing minutes.Dean Holden and Rory Delap from Stoke’s backroom team were both dismissed, along with the Tykes coach Joseph Laumann.
      A mass brawl between the Stoke and Barnsley benches saw THREE coaches receive red cardsCredit: Getty
      The clash broke out after a coming-together between players on the pitchCredit: Getty
      The game boiled over when Barnsley boss Markus Schopp kept his foot on the ball with Stoke pushing hard for a winner.
      Holden then pushed Schopp to get the ball back — and that was the signal for both benches to jump in and square up to each other.
      Club security had to get involved to separate players and  there certainly looked to be more than one raised hand among the melee.
      That followed a red card five minutes earlier when Stoke’s Tommy Smith was sent off thanks to a reckless challenge on Claudio Gomes.
      But Barnsley keeper Brad Collins was the game’s hero as he denied Stoke a top-two spot with series of stops — including a penalty save.
      Michael O’Neill’s side took the lead through Sam Surridge after 17 minutes.
      The feud spilled over onto the sidelines as officials struggled to contain the angerCredit: Getty
      The ugly scenes played out at the end of a tense 1-1 Championship clashCredit: Getty

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      But a brilliant 25-yard free-kick from Cauley Woodrow just before half-time levelled the scores.  
      Stoke looked set to regain the lead in first-half stoppage time when referee Leigh Doughty said Collins had tripped Surridge as he pushed the ball past him.
      The Tykes players were furious at the decision but Mario Vrancic fired his spot-kick down the middle  and former Chelsea keeper Collins superbly pushed it on to the bar.
      And Collins was not finished there as he continued his heroics after the break.

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      Rory Delap was one of three coaches sent off by the refCredit: Getty
      Stoke player Tommy Smith was also given his marching ordersCredit: Getty
      He kept out a close-range effort from Surridge then made a double save — blocking a Vranic header and  Surridge from the rebound.
      Sub Sam Clucas should have scored Stoke’s second when he had a free header but put it wide.
      Collins denied Surridge yet again with eight minutes left.  But Smith’s dismissal saw Stoke lose momentum.
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