Derby go down but Rooney will stay
Boss blames former owner Morris for Rams relegation
WAYNE ROONEY pointed the finger of blame at former owner Mel Morris but vowed to stay and lead the rebuild after Derby’s relegation to League One was sealed.
It came on a day of high drama. Derby lost at QPR to Luke Amos’s late goal but an even later Reading equaliser in the 95th minute against Swansea, to complete a remarkable comeback from 4-1 down, proved to be the strike that sent the Rams down.
After being hit with a 21-point deduction due to breaching EFL rules and going into administration, seeing some of his key assets stripped away against his wishes leaving Rooney with a rookie-filled squad and ongoing ownership issues causing further uncertainty, it was a near-miracle that defiant Derby took their relegation fight to the final four games.
They will now play in the third tier for the first time since 1986.
Rooney said: ‘It’s strange. I thought I’d be more upset. I am disappointed, sad, angry, upset, but ultimately proud of the players, staff and fans, who have been excellent.
‘I said to the players after the game, “When you walk out of that dressing room, walk out with your head high. Don’t let your heads drop”.
‘We know we’d be safe without the penalties we’ve had. This is where we’ve been left by the previous owner and we’ve been trying to pick up the pieces from that and trying to pull off something really special.
‘We’ve paid the price for what the previous owner has left behind. And I’m sure it’s a sad day for him as well because I know Mel is a Derby fan.
‘He’ll be disappointed himself, because we’ve tried to fix the mess he’s left us in as best we can.’
And Rooney is ready to continue picking up the pieces, provided US businessman Chris Kirchner’s takeover goes through.
He said: ‘It has to happen quickly. I’m not stupid. I know Premier League teams and top clubs in the Championship are looking at some of our younger players.
‘I need to be able to give them something — to offer them something to stay. I need to be able to add to that squad. I know what players I want to bring in in League One and I need to be able to get that moving quickly to make sure we have the best chance of coming straight back up.
‘I’m excited to get my teeth into it. I want to rebuild this club. But the takeover has to happen quickly. If it doesn’t I’m unsure of my future and the club’s future.’
Amos’s goal came as Rooney’s side were pushing for a winner.
And the final curtain fell at Reading, in a fashion as cruel as some of the events that have been dumped on Derby this season. There was no exodus from the away section when Derby’s relegation was finally confirmed, nor the expected TV shots of fans in uncontrollable tears.
Instead those who had travelled in hope stood as one, proud and defiant and applauded Rooney and his players long and hard following their mammoth efforts to try to keep Derby up in the face of extreme adversity.
Rooney added: ‘I’ve never seen a team get relegated and the reaction of the fans be like that. I’ve been in football a while and I’ve very rarely seen this togetherness and the bond between a group players, staff and fans. We can be really proud of that.’
QPR 1 DERBY COUNTY 0