Paul Warne has revealed the difficulties Derby County may have this summer following promotion to the Championship.
Derby achieved automatic promotion to the Championship on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 win over Carlisle United.
Paul Warne is now faced with a busy summer ahead as 12 of his players see their contracts expire and most positions in his squad need bolstering with added quality.
The 50-year-old doesn’t boast the best record in the second tier, having suffered relegations at Rotherham United in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
During his time at the Millers however, Warne wasn’t backed by as the Rotherham board were cash strapped, forcing him to sign players who weren’t at the required level.
Luckily, at Derby, he will be presented with the necessary funds by David Clowes to improve his squad, although that doesn’t make the challenge any easier.
Paul Warne reveals the difficulties Derby County could endure
There are plenty of decisions to be made with recruitment and outgoings ahead of this summer.
Warne has accepted that his side will need to be bolstered significantly if they are to compete in the Championship, describing it as ‘the best it has been in years’.
The main issue with splashing the cash on quality additions is letting go of the ones who got them there.
As it stands, currently 12 first-team players see their contract expire in June and it remains to be seen who stays or goes.
Describing the situation as the “saddest thing about promotion”, Warne has laid bare the issues Derby may have this summer as a big turnover of players is anticipated.
Speaking to Derbyshire Live, he said: “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.”
Derby will target younger players this summer
In League One, Derby had the oldest squad with an average age of 28 while eight of their 12 out-of-contract players are aged 30 or above.
Craig Forsyth, Scott Loach, Korey Smith, Martyn Waghorn and Tom Barkhuizen look destined to depart while the club could offer new deals to Conor Hourihane and James Collins.
Recruitment for the Rams this summer has to be driven towards Championship proven players and talented youngsters, perhaps looking at the Premier League for loans.
Experience will, of course, be essential but Derby have to get the balance correct by capturing individuals who have experienced this level before and youngsters for the long term.
The Rams have operated well on a shoestring budget under Clowes, though now they’re able to spend money, it will be interesting to see whether this window will be a success.
You feel it has to be if Derby are to remain in the Championship.
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