Derby County

Image source, Rex Features

Former Derby County captain Curtis Davies is uncomfortable with how the club dealt with the dismissal of boss Paul Warne.

He was sacked on Friday with the Rams in the Championship relegation zone but barely 24 hours before facing Norwich City.

"To have allowed Paul Warne and his staff to take training, and then sack him, I don't like that at all," Davies told BBC Radio Derby.

"If they know he's not going to have the job then it's a meeting in the morning. On a human level you can't allow a man to take training and be preparing for a game.

"If it's the right decision or not it's not the way I would like my football club in terms of Derby County to conduct themselves."

First-team coach Matt Hamshaw will be in charge for the game at Carrow Road on Saturday and Davies thinks whoever is appointed will have a tough job on their hands.

"I think in isolation if you look at a record of eight losses in a row and 12 in 15 it's hard to defend.

"With a transfer window having just gone if you're trying to lure a manager of better quality than Paul Warne who can potentially keep them up he's going to have to do it with the squad they've already got and that's a bit of a worry."

Luke Pingu
Fan Writer and Youtuber

So, Paul Warne has been dismissed from his position as Derby County head coach.

With the club now in the relegation zone and without a win since Boxing Day, Derby are looking for the right person to avoid the drop.

With the current squad Derby have and with 16 games remaining would a change in the style of play be possible?

Quite a big criticism of the Paul Warne era was that his football was 'boring'.

However, with limited resources he got the club promoted in his first full season and achieved his primary goal which gave him enough credit to keep his job for a few extra weeks.

An ideal candidate who is currently without a job would be Sean Dyche. The job he did with Burnley is incredibly underrated and he would put long-term foundations into the club.

Whoever is given the honour to manage Derby County will get a big backing from the fans and home form will be critical to the club avoiding relegation.

Owner David Clowes must now make the right decision on who should complete this task.

After Paul Warne was sacked as Derby County boss on Friday afternoon, we asked you whether it was the right decision and who you would want to replace him.

Here are your responses:

Daniel: I think Derby have made the right decision in sacking Paul Warne. A bland style of football and seven league defeats in a row, it was inevitable. I will say the timing is very strange, the day before a game plus getting the backing of bringing his own players and not even getting the chance to use them is weird. I will forever be grateful for his efforts getting us promoted, but the change was needed, and all we need to do is back the new manager, whoever it is.

Alistair: I think it's the wrong decision right now immediately after the transfer window closed. He should have been given time with the new players. If anything, Warne should have been sacked pre-Christmas so a new manager would have been in place prior to the transfer window.

Alfie: 100% the only viable decision for the club. Only way we were ever going to stay up was to sack him as he was very clearly out of his depth. Onwards and upwards from here.

Gary: Paul was a great League One boss but the Championship was a step too far. Rob Edwards would be my choice.

Alan: I think it's a bit of a strange one sacking Paul Warne after he's taken training. But I do believe it is time for a change. Paul will always be remembered for getting us promoted from League One. But the run of results have shown he has taken us as far as he can.

John: Strange decision the day before a game. I think Warne has been unlucky with the injuries, let's hope we appoint the right man. Sean Dyche for me.

RamBoy: I'm shocked to say the least. I'm not saying it isn't deserved or unexpected but the timing is strange. The board/owner let Warne have all the transfer window, bring in new players, train the team all week and make preparations for this weekend's game to only then go and sack him. Once all that happened, you'd have been forgiven for thinking he had the rest of the season, if not until Easter. Very strange decision indeed.

Chris: Right decision but it should have been taken before the transfer window. It will be a big ask to turn form around to avoid the drop from here. Warne's replacement should be someone with a record of success in the Championship, to give us a sporting chance. Steve Cooper?

Steve: I think everyone should have waited and given Paul Warne until the end of the season at least. I believe he'd have been able to keep us in the Championship. What we have now, however, is the prospect of a new manager coming in who will probably want to change the playing staff before some of them have even kicked a ball for us.

Liam: He did a great job in securing promotion but his record as a Championship manager doesn't read well. We need someone with knowledge of this league who has done well in playing attacking football and also has a plan B. Not Gerrard though.

Rob: No... at least not for another two or three games. You don't allow a manager to sign players in the transfer window only to sack him before he's had a chance to integrate them into the team (along with returning injured players they would have likely made the difference). Unless there is a new manager appointment to be announced inside a week then what's the point?

Image source, Rex Features

Former Derby County players Eric Steele and Malcolm Christie say the club's decision to sack head coach Paul Warne "is not a surprise".

Ex-Rams goalkeeper Steele admitted he was "surprised by the timing" just 24 hours before Derby take on Norwich in the Championship, but not by the decision itself.

Warne has presided over seven straight defeats in the league with the Rams now in the relegation zone and the atmosphere from the stands had become particularly uncomfortable.

"I think the fans have had a massive impact in terms of driving this decision," Steele told BBC Radio Derby.

"I think David Clowes [club owner] could not ignore the reaction of the fans at the last two or three games.

"I don't think it'll come as a surprise to the fans and I think there will be a lot of relief the change has been made.

"Whoever is going to take over, tough job in the short time that you've got, but let's hope the players will dig in and go 'come on, we've got to get a result tomorrow'.

"Irrespective of who is going to be in charge, the result is so important for this football club and we can sort the rest of the details out later."

Former striker Christie believes Warne's exit was "inevitable" with "the way the season has been going".

"Paul's seen a team that's been playing for him and wanting to put a performance in but ultimately, they've been losing - and losing quite regularly," Christie said.

"The supporters have let David and everybody know what they think needed to happen. Clearly David and the board have made a considered decision.

"The timing of it is not ideal but are people just waiting for us to go to Norwich to get beaten for this to happen with Paul?

"Whoever the new guy is in the short-term or long-term has to come in and have a real impact on this season because that's what's needed now.

"We need everybody to pull together in the same direction because at the end of the day, the fans have wanted this and a lot of people wanted this last season as well, even though Paul Warne got Derby County promoted.

"The fans, the vast majority of them anyway, have got their wishes. But now it's about the team. Support the team."

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County have sacked boss Paul Warne after a run of seven straight defeats saw them slip to 22nd in the Championship and two points adrift from safety.

Rams supporters, we want to know what you think…

• Is it the right decision to part ways with Warne?

• Who do you want to replace him?

• Can Derby stay up with a change of head coach?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, Getty Images

Head coach Paul Warne admits Derby County missed out on three transfer deadline day targets, but insists he remains satisfied with the business the Rams did get done across the winter window.

Getting teenager Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Pride Park on loan was the only deal the Championship strugglers got over the line in the hours before the mid-season transfer window closed earlier this week.

He was the fourth addition made, with centre-backs Matt Clarke and Sondre Langas, as well as striker Lars-Jorgen Salvesen joining in January.

"On the whole, am I pleased with the window? Yeah, I'm pretty pleased," Warne told BBC Radio Derby.

"I like the players that we have brought in, but I would have liked one or two more."

The sale of Eiran Cashin to Brighton for £9m, a season-ending injury to his centre-back partner Curtis Nelson, as well as an injury to forward Dajaune Brown after offloading forward James Collins to Lincoln City meant the additions represent replacements more than reinforcements in the Rams' relegation battle.

Before a change of heart from clubs Derby were trying to do business with, that was not how it was looking for the Rams.

"I can't give out names, but we had centre-forward that was coming in, a wider player that was coming in - it was all on, then on the last day the club changes their mind," he said.

"And not our club, their club. And there is not much we can do about that.

"I don't feel let down, I would have liked obviously more power at the top of the pitch because in games, we are losing games – I'm well aware we are losing games – but we are losing games by one goal.

"We are not being outplayed, I don't think defensively but in possession we just need to give ourselves more chances to score and obviously that is inclusive of bringing in players at the top. That is my disappointment and I know they are the hardest to get."

You can hear more from Paul Warne about transfers, the Rams' form and their next match against Norwich on BBC Radio Derby's Rams Daily podcast.

Norwich City welcome Derby County on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT) looking to continue their push for a play-off place after winning two games on the bounce.

The Canaries are eighth, just two points behind the top six, and are trying to win three league games in a row for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, the Rams have suffered seven straight defeats - winning just two of their past 16 games (D3 L11) - and are two points adrift from safety in 22nd.

• After winning the reverse fixture 3-2, Norwich City will be looking to record a first league double over Derby County since the 2010-11 season.

• Derby County have won each of their past three away league games against Norwich City, as many as across their prior 19 visits to Carrow Road combined (D4 L12).

• Norwich have only failed to score in one of their past 27 home league games, while only Leeds United (42) have scored more home goals in the Championship than the Canaries this term (36).

• Derby have lost each of their past seven league games – the most league defeats they've ever suffered in a row is eight, doing so on three occasions, most recently between December 1987 and February 1988 in the top-flight.

• Norwich's Josh Sargent has been involved in nine goals in his past eight Championship starts (5 goals, 4 assists). He also provided two assists in the Canaries 3-2 win over Derby in the reverse fixture.

Image source, Rex Features

Shrewsbury Town head coach Gareth Ainsworth said he has sympathy for Derby County boss Paul Warne after the Rams' poor recent run of form.

Derby have slipped to 22nd in the Championship after seven straight defeats and are two points adrift from safety ahead of their trip to Norwich City on Saturday.

"I can feel what he's going through, I really can, because you get in this sort of whirlwind of you don't know how to get out of it," Ainsworth told the Football Daily 72+ podcast.

"I'm really glad the club have backed him because I know Warney, I managed against him a lot of times and he is a good guy.

"But you can feel in his interviews now that he's getting frustrated. I really feel for him. It's a lonely place when it's like that, it really is."

The Rams made their second signing from Norwegian top-flight side Viking in the transfer window in centre-back Sondre Langas, who followed striker and former team-mate Lars-Jorgen Salvesen to Pride Park.

Defender Matt Clarke also arrived from Middlesbrough, as well as Everton youngster Harrison Armstrong who joined on loan until the end of the season as Derby look to boost their survival hopes following Eiran Cashin's exit to Brighton.

"He's got to be given a chance with these signings," Ainsworth added.

"It's now this new breed of Derby players, especially going forward. They've been OK at the back but they've got to start hurting teams at the other side.

"I'm just hoping the Norwegians coming in, Harrison, who all the talk is about with creation, can they do this for Paul? It's only a step away. Hopefully, he can turn it around."

Listen to the latest episode of Football Daily 72+: The EFL Podcast on BBC Sounds.

The call went out for Derby County fans to share their views on the Rams' transfer business. And it is fair to say the responses range from scathing to pragmatic.

The word 'disappointed' came up more than a few times, but a few responses have been more positive and some fans feel enough has been done to ensure the squad is good enough to remain in the Championship.

Here is a cross-section of what Derby supporters had to say...

Helen: Disappointed that we were led to believe we would have three more players in as well as the Norwegian centre-back, but it didn't happen. We've not improved only replaced. Not sure what our recruitment team have actually been doing prior and during this transfer window - very poor.

Claire: Disappointed to say the very least. It's like we've been promised a 1kg chocolate bar and been given a Mini Egg.

Tony: Derby's transfer windows always seem to be the same. After all the positive speculation about bringing in new blood at the start, it always ends the same. Average new signings at best and oh - sorry lads - we're selling our best player!

Jeff: We'd better hope that Salvesen and Yates stay fit because they are our only strikers. Most clubs at this level have four or five strikers to choose from. We don't have that luxury, so it will be makeshift. Not sure how we are going to get out of this mess without a number of players who can score.

Tristan: Could have done with another striker, but feel the four we signed should be enough to get us out & stay out of relegation trouble.

Sam: On the whole looks a good window, but considering from where we are starting we look light up front. I still don't think we have the goals or attacking threat to keep us up.

Frank: Very pleased. It would have been good had Cashin been able to be loaned back, like Bird last season. The two central defenders appear to be good replacements. Ozoh back, Armstrong in, and Salvesen up front, the continuing heroics of Zetterstrom and we have a good spine.

John: Disappointing not to add more pace to the team - surely there are rapid youngsters at Premier League clubs who we could have loaned?

Chris: Disappointed with lack of players in. We are pretty well on bare bones with injuries. So many hamstring issues, why? On a positive front, faith in team to pull us out of bottom three even if we finish fourth from bottom and stay in Championship that has to be the priority.

Bob: Very poor window. I wish Armstrong well and am sure he's a good player, but can he deal with a relegation scrap and Warne-ball? Still woefully short of quality, and a Championship-savvy manager.

Lee: Nailed on for relegation! That was our last hope and we blew it!

David: The sale of our best player, key defender and future captain Cashin was a big disappointment, especially on the back of the recent loss of his centre-back partner to a season-ending injury.

On a more positive note we made three good additions in important areas, two in central defence and one striker, the latter being our key weakness this season.

It's likely that our current predicament was a key factor in our failing to add more bodies but at least we did not resort to throwing money at the problem and should have some decent money to hand still from the net spend over the window.

Paul: Derby are just moving the deckchairs on the Titanic, as they are badly holed below the line and sinking fast.

These transfers will not solve the position they are in, only a change in manager or change in the trench mentality of the manager will solve the issue.

Image source, Getty Images

It's time to talk about Derby County's transfer business...

The Rams turned their attention to Norway for two of their signings, signing striker Lars-Jorgen Salvesen and defender Sondre Langas from Viking.

Centre-back Matt Clarke has been brought back for a third spell at Pride Park and, on transfer deadline day, teenager Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong was also recruited on loan.

Langas and Armstrong were two who arrived after Derby sold star defender Eiran Cashin to Premier League side Brighton for £9m on Friday evening – a sale that had appeared to give Derby's coffers a significant boost.

Injuries and Derby's lowly position in the Championship table had appeared to make it a critical transfer window if they are to battle their way to safety.

So, tell us what you think about the Rams' transfer dealings?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong is set to head out on loan to Championship strugglers Derby County.

The 18-year-old has broken into the Toffees first team this season, making six appearances, including an impressive showing in the FA Cup third round victory over Peterborough.

Everton sources feel a loan move for Armstrong will provide some valuable first-team experience for the England youth international.

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

By 5pm on Saturday evening, Derby County had equalled an unwanted record.

Seven straight league defeats for the first time since that Premier League season in 2007-08 in which they registered a record low 11 points.

By November 2007 it was clear that Billy Davies' team were woefully down on the levels of quality needed to compete in the top flight.

He was sacked and replaced by Paul Jewell whose tenure then presided over a further 21 league defeats and a penalty shootout win over Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup.

That season the Rams lost seven in a row before Christmas and six in a row at the end of the campaign. It was woeful and forgettable.

Seventeen years later it is still the butt of all jokes as Southampton scrape towards that 11-point mark in the current Premier League.

Everyone accepted during that season that Derby had got promoted too soon amid a three year plan completed in the first season by the new owners and Davies.

The squad was inadequate in ability and had an age range of players in their teens to mid-thirties.

A Premier League squad it wasn't - and the big money incomings of Claude Davies, Rob Earnshaw and Kenny Miller didn't reap rewards.

Now in 2025, the Rams have rivalled the record of that car crash campaign.

Seven straight defeats in the Championship in a series of matches that have come and gone leaving fans scratching their heads.

It is a similar narrative of obvious deficiencies punished by differing levels of opposition quality.

During the defeat by Sheffield United, some of the supporters made clear their standpoint of what they were witnessing.

Even new arrival Matt Clarke struggled to straight bat the atmosphere he stepped into at Pride Park.

He was excellent in defence and fitted in well to the 100% commitment we've seen from the players for the majority of this run.

Derby head to Norwich City on Saturday looking to avoid another record.

The last time they lost eight league games in a row was 1987 under Arthur Cox; Derby stuck with him throughout and they survived finishing 15th, a point above the bottom four.

Before that it was 1888, four years before Steve Bloomer made his Rams debut.

What they'd give for a hero like him now!

BBC Radio Derby commentator Ed Dawes says watching the Rams is "depressing" following their 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Saturday.

The defeat, sealed by Ben Brereton Diaz's first goal in his second spell for the Blades, left the Rams in the Championship relegation places, with fans voicing their displeasure during the second-half and at full-time towards head coach Paul Warne.

"Derby didn't really cause them any issues," Dawes said on Rams Daily following the club's seventh consecutive league defeat.

"It's seven straight league defeats, playing the same way, no change up, different personnel.

"If you take the [FA Cup third-round defeat on penalties by] Leyton Orient, that's eight games in a row - how can that continue?

"The product is no good, it's depressing people. They [the fans] sang it in the South Stand and they're doing that at home and everyone's here, the Chief Executive, the owner.

"The fans have spoken- they need to be listened to."

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder offered a message of support to under-pressure Derby head coach Paul Warne after his side inflicted a seventh successive Championship defeat on the Rams.

Wilder walked into the post-match press conference at Pride Park and went straight into talking about his rival boss following the narrow win.

Saturday's loss has the Rams on their worst run for 17 years, third from bottom in the table and two points from safety.

"What I will say is when you're a manager, you want to see your players play for the club, play for the manager and give it a right go and I thought all the Derby players did for Paul," he said.

"Paul is a good guy and he deserves the support. It's not my gig but that's my view from externally.

"Obviously it's a difficult period for Derby and Paul. We've watched the games and they could quite easily have got a result against Sunderland, could have got a result in two or three other of their games as well.

"They could have got a result today because they gave everything for their manager.

"They've lost their best player [Eiran Cashin, who was sold to Brighton] and are looking to bring players in and they're incredibly stretched. If you look at their bench, it was pretty similar to ours in terms of when we were stretched."

Warne came out to speak to the print media shortly after Wilder and addressed the huge pressure he is under, saying he will continue to work as normal "until told otherwise".

Image source, PA Media

Derby County head coach Paul Warne spoke to BBC Radio Derby after the Rams were beaten 1-0 at home by Sheffield United.

"I'm hugely disappointed, as everybody is, and I'm well aware of the situation," he said.

"But I can't really knock my team for the efforts they are giving me. And it's our job as coaches to get as much out of the lads as we can. I'm disappointed we lost, because we only conceded one shot in the second half.

"But we are in that form at the moment where we don't take any half-chances that we get, and any we concede seem to go in. That is what my overriding emotion is.

"I just think at the moment that this performance, as an independent performance, wouldn't have been as disappointing. But its on the back of loads of poor results, I understand that.

"I do believe in it [being able to turn Derby around] and if I didn't I wouldn't stand there."

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Eiran Cashin's departure from Derby County sees another academy graduate leave the club with hopes to make a Premier League living.

Brighton's gain is Derby's loss with a huge hole left by the 23-year-old heart on the sleeve individual.

He has literally bled black and white ever since making his full debut under Wayne Rooney in 2021.

Back then administration and Covid outbreaks meant Cashin was needed in the first team, but because of various EFL rules set out through administration, Derby were unable to register him.

Rooney's faith in the youngster saw him make 18 Championship appearances at the age of 19.

From that moment on his allegiance to the cause has never been in question, he's grown into an experienced central defender who's developed his game from head it and kick, to play out from the back and switch play effortlessly.

When Brighton first came knocking in the summer of 2023 it turned his head.

He missed the away defeat at Bolton in September because he had been waiting in a Little Eaton coffee shop in case a deal with the Seagulls could be reached.

It wasn't and he reached the team hotel in the north west at 2am.

Since then he celebrated promotion from League One as a main stay of Paul Warne's side that finished second in the table.

Like the majority of his team-mates, the return to the Championship has not been as comfortable as hoped.

His tears after the Cardiff City game recently led to speculation of a departure.

For him a move to Brighton is a sensible option with Derby in a relegation battle.

His stock might not be as high in League One, should that fate fall their way.

His personal ambition to play in the Premier League is an unselfish dream to which every fan should support.