ImARam2

I began following the Rams in January 1962 - 60 years ago this year, although I'm not sure if Harry Storer was still manager at that time, and I was certainly on the pitch when Tim Ward was sacked, but then in walked Clough & Taylor, and we didn't know what the next five years would bring.
So the experiences of watching Derby County, home and away, throughout that 60 years have been wonderful when we were promoted and winning the league titles; heart breaking with the relegations; sometimes despair and impossible to fathom what the hell was going on with the many off-field shenanigans, yet very proud to have travelled so many miles supporting my home town club.
And, at the age of 70, a few weeks back, I was in the crowd of 4,000 Derby fans at Blackpool, absolutely enjoying every minute - what a day.
Let us hope the love and support we gave the team during last season goes through to next season and we see the good times return again to Derby County Football Club.
COYR's

I began following the Rams in January 1962 - 60 years ago this year, although I'm not sure if Harry Storer was still manager at that time, and I was certainly on the pitch when Tim Ward was sacked, but then in walked Clough & Taylor, and we didn't know what the next five years would bring.
So the experiences of watching Derby County, home and away, throughout that 60 years have been wonderful when we were promoted and winning the league titles; heart breaking with the relegations; sometimes despair and impossible to fathom what the hell was going on with the many off-field shenanigans, yet very proud to have travelled so many miles supporting my home town club.
And, at the age of 70, a few weeks back, I was in the crowd of 4,000 Derby fans at Blackpool, absolutely enjoying every minute - what a day.
Let us hope the love and support we gave the team during last season goes through to next season and we see the good times return again to Derby County Football Club.
COYR's

I began following the Rams in January 1962 - 60 years ago this year, although I'm not sure if Harry Storer was still manager at that time, and I was certainly on the pitch when Tim Ward was sacked, but then in walked Clough & Taylor, and we didn't know what the next five years would bring.
So the experiences of watching Derby County, home and away, throughout that 60 years have been wonderful when we were promoted and winning the league titles; heart breaking with the relegations; sometimes despair and impossible to fathom what the hell was going on with the many off-field shenanigans, yet very proud to have travelled so many miles supporting my home town club.
And, at the age of 70, a few weeks back, I was in the crowd of 4,000 Derby fans at Blackpool, absolutely enjoying every minute - what a day.
Let us hope the love and support we gave the team during last season goes through to next season and we see the good times return again to Derby County Football Club.
COYR's

I began following the Rams in January 1962 - 60 years ago this year, although I'm not sure if Harry Storer was still manager at that time, and I was certainly on the pitch when Tim Ward was sacked, but then in walked Clough & Taylor, and we didn't know what the next five years would bring.
So the experiences of watching Derby County, home and away, throughout that 60 years have been wonderful when we were promoted and winning the league titles; heart breaking with the relegations; sometimes despair and impossible to fathom what the hell was going on with the many off-field shenanigans, yet very proud to have travelled so many miles supporting my home town club.
And, at the age of 70, a few weeks back, I was in the crowd of 4,000 Derby fans at Blackpool, absolutely enjoying every minute - what a day.
Let us hope the love and support we gave the team during last season goes through to next season and we see the good times return again to Derby County Football Club.
COYR's

I began following the Rams in January 1962 - 60 years ago this year, although I'm not sure if Harry Storer was still manager at that time, and I was certainly on the pitch when Tim Ward was sacked, but then in walked Clough & Taylor, and we didn't know what the next five years would bring.
So the experiences of watching Derby County, home and away, throughout that 60 years have been wonderful when we were promoted and winning the league titles; heart breaking with the relegations; sometimes despair and impossible to fathom what the hell was going on with the many off-field shenanigans, yet very proud to have travelled so many miles supporting my home town club.
And, at the age of 70, a few weeks back, I was in the crowd of 4,000 Derby fans at Blackpool, absolutely enjoying every minute - what a day.
Let us hope the love and support we gave the team during last season goes through to next season and we see the good times return again to Derby County Football Club.
COYR's

I began following the Rams in January 1962 - 60 years ago this year, although I'm not sure if Harry Storer was still manager at that time, and I was certainly on the pitch when Tim Ward was sacked, but then in walked Clough & Taylor, and we didn't know what the next five years would bring.
So the experiences of watching Derby County, home and away, throughout that 60 years have been wonderful when we were promoted and winning the league titles; heart breaking with the relegations; sometimes despair and impossible to fathom what the hell was going on with the many off-field shenanigans, yet very proud to have travelled so many miles supporting my home town club.
And, at the age of 70, a few weeks back, I was in the crowd of 4,000 Derby fans at Blackpool, absolutely enjoying every minute - what a day.
Let us hope the love and support we gave the team during last season goes through to next season and we see the good times return again to Derby County Football Club.
COYR's

This is a very interesting comment, as I've done a very rough estimate based on what I spend going to a home match, as follows:
Season Ticket per season = £495 / 23 = £21.50 per game Travel by car = £3 fuel + Car Park - £10 = £13, or, Travel by Bus = £5 2 pints of beer before/after a game = £8 Something to eat before the game (e.g. fish & chips, etc.) = £10 So my total per game is between £44.50 to £52.50 x 23 games = £1,023.50 / £1,207.50 If you take the average Pride Park attendance as 22,000 x £1,000 per season = £22 million. So that's a long way from the £100m, but I'm just an average fan, but I'm sure other fans spend more than that amount, and if the attendances go above that figure, especially when there is a good away support, then the I would imagine the figure would be nearer £25-£27 million, just on "going to the match", and not extra's such as overnight rooms; restaurant meals; train fares; DCFC shop sales, etc.

This is a very interesting comment, as I've done a very rough estimate based on what I spend going to a home match, as follows:
Season Ticket per season = £495 / 23 = £21.50 per game Travel by car = £3 fuel + Car Park - £10 = £13, or, Travel by Bus = £5 2 pints of beer before/after a game = £8 Something to eat before the game (e.g. fish & chips, etc.) = £10 So my total per game is between £44.50 to £52.50 x 23 games = £1,023.50 / £1,207.50 If you take the average Pride Park attendance as 22,000 x £1,000 per season = £22 million. So that's a long way from the £100m, but I'm just an average fan, but I'm sure other fans spend more than that amount, and if the attendances go above that figure, especially when there is a good away support, then the I would imagine the figure would be nearer £25-£27 million, just on "going to the match", and not extra's such as overnight rooms; restaurant meals; train fares; DCFC shop sales, etc.

Despite only just getting into Derby's 1st team this season, and playing just a handful of game, he is one of the best defenders in the Championship.
He is not the fastest, but he's strong as an ox, and just watch his positioning because he's very quick to be aware of opponents play.
He's certainly got the strength of Buxton, but there's something alike in Colin Todd when reading the play.
This is one player Derby have to give a huge contract, even if it's only to get a decent transfer fee if he leaves. He will play in the Premiership one day, hopefully with the Rams.

Despite only just getting into Derby's 1st team this season, and playing just a handful of game, he is one of the best defenders in the Championship.
He is not the fastest, but he's strong as an ox, and just watch his positioning because he's very quick to be aware of opponents play.
He's certainly got the strength of Buxton, but there's something alike in Colin Todd when reading the play.
This is one player Derby have to give a huge contract, even if it's only to get a decent transfer fee if he leaves. He will play in the Premiership one day, hopefully with the Rams.

Despite only just getting into Derby's 1st team this season, and playing just a handful of game, he is one of the best defenders in the Championship.
He is not the fastest, but he's strong as an ox, and just watch his positioning because he's very quick to be aware of opponents play.
He's certainly got the strength of Buxton, but there's something alike in Colin Todd when reading the play.
This is one player Derby have to give a huge contract, even if it's only to get a decent transfer fee if he leaves. He will play in the Premiership one day, hopefully with the Rams.

Despite only just getting into Derby's 1st team this season, and playing just a handful of game, he is one of the best defenders in the Championship.
He is not the fastest, but he's strong as an ox, and just watch his positioning because he's very quick to be aware of opponents play.
He's certainly got the strength of Buxton, but there's something alike in Colin Todd when reading the play.
This is one player Derby have to give a huge contract, even if it's only to get a decent transfer fee if he leaves. He will play in the Premiership one day, hopefully with the Rams.

Despite only just getting into Derby's 1st team this season, and playing just a handful of game, he is one of the best defenders in the Championship.
He is not the fastest, but he's strong as an ox, and just watch his positioning because he's very quick to be aware of opponents play.
He's certainly got the strength of Buxton, but there's something alike in Colin Todd when reading the play.
This is one player Derby have to give a huge contract, even if it's only to get a decent transfer fee if he leaves. He will play in the Premiership one day, hopefully with the Rams.

Despite only just getting into Derby's 1st team this season, and playing just a handful of game, he is one of the best defenders in the Championship.
He is not the fastest, but he's strong as an ox, and just watch his positioning because he's very quick to be aware of opponents play.
He's certainly got the strength of Buxton, but there's something alike in Colin Todd when reading the play.
This is one player Derby have to give a huge contract, even if it's only to get a decent transfer fee if he leaves. He will play in the Premiership one day, hopefully with the Rams.

At EFL HQ right now

I was there.
Yeats "throwing" Bill Curry into the Popside, but Liverpool still got promotion that season and went on to  better things (I think!!).

One of the few more balanced posts.
We're all angry with Mel now but, with only a few exceptions, not many were complaining when he was splashing the cash. Some would say "backing his manager in the transfer market".
I think where the latter argument falls down is that we - as supporters - do not see the detailed finances. Mel would have done so he knew the gamble he was taking.
It was a gamble and it didn't pay off.
If we'd got to the Premier League, like QPR, Wolves, Villa and others, it's unlikely any of this would've come to light.
The issue is that the gamble failed and has put the whole club in jeopardy (CK has not yet completed the purchase). That's a risk you should not take, that Mel should not have taken.
That's why it won't be forgotten or forgiven.
But I have to say those governing the game, the EFL and the FA, need to take a huge proportion of the blame. The infrastructure, the rules, the system should be in place to prevent the risk to community entities i.e. football clubs.
Stability, sustainable operation, fair competition are all needed if football - as a sport - is to survive.

I don’t my blame Mel
disagree with his actions but don’t blame him.
he did what we all wanted, chased the premier league dream in the way he knew how, and we wanted. Pump in cash, throw money at it. 
 
what we didn’t want, or de enough of to keep him in check was
1) try to circumvent FFP
2) set us on a cliff edge where failure meant oblivion
 
it’s not our fault, we trusted a man who claimed to be on of our own, a supporter thick and thin. We trusted his business acumen - this is where as a group we fans ducked up. This is why
 
1) he made most of his money getting lucky and selling a company who created an app - nothing to do with his business know how
2) tolerated him entering the changing room to berate the team - Rooney mentioned this in passing in a recent interview and it’s cropped up in the past (Pearson I think leaving as manager)
3) his overt attempts to circumvent FFP
had Mel not been a “Fan” we would not have stood for these (and I think others will have more examples. We ignored red flags
 
no opology will be forthcoming - narcissists don’t say sorry 
 
 

Biggest thing for me about the EFL was their total lack of professionalism during the whole process. From their disgraceful statements saying they were "disappointed" that they're own appeal system had found in our favour.
Just think about that for one minute, a professional Trade body that was "disappointed" that one of its members was not punished enough under its own procedure.....all because Rick Parry was terrified of Steve Gibson threatening to sue the EFL if they didn't punish Derby enough.
I hope that if Parry or Gibson ever step foot in Derby they will be given the reception they truly deserve.
Not interested in an apology from Morris, just do the right thing with the stadium, thats all. 

First, commiserations to our team & management staff for a fight bravely fought. We were always up against it after our owner put us into admin (12pts), the second deduction a real blow, the win at Stoke offered a real glimmer of hope at the end of 2021 but I think the January transfer window sealed our fate (three key blows/factors).
It's taken us two seasons to get out of the third tier each time we've ended up there. There's a healthy dose of realism on this thread, but then it's been a chastening few seasons. Browsing the points totals for the three relegated sides, they are all in the high 70s/one 80+, so assuming the worst happens (-15), another potential massive downer, but perhaps not the obstacle it has been in a very competitive division where we couldn't sign players (January) & lost key personnel & would start from the beginning of the season, rather than mid Sep (as said on BBC Derby, I think). Obviously, I hope that doesn't happen. Until a takeover is official, nothing can be assumed.
Next season, I expect us to be strong at home as we have been this season. League 1 is filled with fallen giants/underachievers (Ipswich, Portsmouth etc) as well as overachieving, well-run smaller clubs. The latter will treat going to Pride Park like a cup final & raise their game, however, few of their players will be used to playing in front of such a large crowd, 20-25k+ (the noise). Rooney has often pointed out how our young players have had to cope with this pressure.
I'm worried that there may be a bit of a hangover from such an emotionally draining season though we hardly have any players left (contracted) to feel drained (I expect Lawrence to depart). As in 1984-85, we may finish strongly with an eye on a promotion challenge the season after (85-86)
Football has evolved, and ball-playing sides can thrive in the lower leagues, however, we need to bring in a few seasoned professionals (26+ in age) & dare I say it, one or two physically aggressive players, who will make up for attitude what they lack in technique/ability. I think we have to win the physical battle first in League 1. Our away record has been poor in 2022 due to the loss of experienced players & overdependence on younger players. The radio commentary on Blackburn away suggested they bullied us second half.
Sides like Wolves & Leicester went up at the first time of asking. I don't expect that, but I think they had pragmatic managers (Pearson's first permanent job) whose sides combined the physical with ability. We need to prepare ourselves that we will have to compete in the same way Rooney adopted a siege-mentality this season with our squad.
Consolidation, hopefully avoiding another deduction & some canny moves in the transfer market, & maybe we can aim to emulate Sheff W for instance. We need to put a platform in place first & build upon it. If we have to stay down for a second season, we may be in a position to make cash signings (if allowed), specifically promising/experienced players (cherry-picking the better ones from the smaller clubs in the division, vis Bolton signing Charles from Accrington).
 

We'll have at least four 28k+ attendances next season - Sheffield Wednesday; Sunderland; Burton Albion & Mansfield Town (if they are promoted).
The majority of games will be on a Saturday afternoon, kick-off's at 3.00 pm, which will give the opportunity for more walk-in's, as well as parents taking their children.
It wouldn't surprise me if our average next season, in Division 1 (and I haven't given up on the Rams staying in the Championship - yet!!), would be around 20k.

We'll have at least four 28k+ attendances next season - Sheffield Wednesday; Sunderland; Burton Albion & Mansfield Town (if they are promoted).
The majority of games will be on a Saturday afternoon, kick-off's at 3.00 pm, which will give the opportunity for more walk-in's, as well as parents taking their children.
It wouldn't surprise me if our average next season, in Division 1 (and I haven't given up on the Rams staying in the Championship - yet!!), would be around 20k.

We'll have at least four 28k+ attendances next season - Sheffield Wednesday; Sunderland; Burton Albion & Mansfield Town (if they are promoted).
The majority of games will be on a Saturday afternoon, kick-off's at 3.00 pm, which will give the opportunity for more walk-in's, as well as parents taking their children.
It wouldn't surprise me if our average next season, in Division 1 (and I haven't given up on the Rams staying in the Championship - yet!!), would be around 20k.

Have you noticed from the above clip, that at least three Derby players were having their shirts held, and at one brief point a Preston player had his arm across Beilek's throat!!
And look how high Curtis gets to put in the header - he looks as if he's another 3 feet higher than anyone else

Did anyone else notice that following the tackle and sending off of bird, the ball had burst, and was replaced?
Did the sound of the bursting ball enhance the thought that the tackle was harder than it looked?