VulcanRam

I'm probably in the minority but I'm not a fan of these open letters demanding this or that, I often think it's more for the egos of those involved than much else. That said, fan power has been thrown into the spotlight in recent times and I guess this has emboldened everyone a bit. 
Some of the questions asked are reasonable particularly for people wanting clarity over ST refunds etc. But sweeping questions like is the future of the club secure and asking for details of what quite clearly would be covered by commercial confidentiality/NDA (financials etc) just make it all look like a bit of grandstanding. As for this fan on the Board nonsense, don't even get me started. We are a privately owned business and unless we own shares have no right to demand to be part of any decision making process and as people have said on here, how can one person or one group represent the views of all supporters? Do people also think they have the right to ask to see the in-depth details of all of Mel's other businesses? Presumably so. 
I love going to the cinema, or the cricket, I have to go to the supermarket, but do I have the right to demand to see their accounts or have a say on how those businesses are run? Of course not. 
Btw I can tell anyone who wants to know why no details of ST have been released for next season, and that's because the club is waiting until the FA confirms how many supporters will be allowed in the stadium before announcing anything. Once we know that, the ball will start rolling. 
 

Full transparency. I was invited to this meeting, but chose not to put my name or the forums to this.
Reason being as I have previously stated, this forum is a platform for fans views, I am not an elected chairman/spokesman to speak on behalf of you all, simply the creator of this platform for fans views which can already be openly seen by the club.
I did not feel comfortable signing on behalf of the forum without consulting you all, and felt my name without attaching dcfcfans.uk held no weight.
My own personal views are that this letter has been created out of concern for the clubs future and regardless of how you feel towards any of the groups that have signed off on it, do not see this as an opportunity to attack supporters groups for speaking on behalf of Derby County fans.
We all love this club. ?

The Foo Fighters would probably beat us. 

Pretty sure it's all cited on here buddy but in all honesty, there's been so many different conversations about this now spread across so many threads, I wouldn't know where to start. Based on what I've read, I see literally no precedent for a points deduction and I really do think that at a time where the EFL's stock is at an all-time low, they are simply sabre-rattling to appease a few angry, blowhard owners and directors. If they'd not appealed, the charges levied to EFL member clubs for what was a farcical tribunal would have hung heavily around their necks. Perpetuating the process just seems like a thinly-veiled attempt to retrospectively give the process some credibility. The whole thing is just embarrassing.

Well, the feeling's mutual so I'm sorry to disappoint you; I'll try to explain where I'm coming from as we're on the same page with a lot of what you say.
1) I'm not necessarily arguing with your assessment of Mel's tenure; my point is that if he has had enough (and he clearly has) and wants out asap, he has nothing to gain by making the type of public statements that @therams69 wants him to. I think we can all see we have moved away from "selling to someone perfect for DCFC" to "selling to whoever I can". Hence the flirtations with Gabay, Dell, BZI, Alonso and loans, charges, refinancing etc etc . He's personally bankrolled the club for the last year or so without wanting to/ got loans to cover costs, and if someone doesn't like the look of £1m plus leaving his personal bank account every month with no end in sight he won't worry too much about selling to whoever comes up with the cash first. 
Therefore, as noble as your sentiments undoubtedly are, he can't guarantee anything - the future of the club, that he will continue to bankroll it etc etc because it doesn't represent the reality. He could do all you say but he doesn't want to (and he has that right), and that's the crucial point, and therefore coming out and saying all will be well, I'll sell to the perfect DCFC buyer and will continue to fund the club until that happens is disingenuous. That was the point I was trying to make.
2) As for Stephen Pearce, everyone will have their view regards his ability as a leader and CEO, but the fact is for the last two years he's been operating in an environment where there is no strategic direction, where decisions are impossible given constant takeovers hanging over the club, where he has to find money month after month from somewhere to pay the wages. Then Covid hit, and for the last 14 months he's had to run a club with zero income. It's a hard job and in my opinion he deserves credit for keeping it going rather than calls for his resignation.  
 
 
 

Well, the feeling's mutual so I'm sorry to disappoint you; I'll try to explain where I'm coming from as we're on the same page with a lot of what you say.
1) I'm not necessarily arguing with your assessment of Mel's tenure; my point is that if he has had enough (and he clearly has) and wants out asap, he has nothing to gain by making the type of public statements that @therams69 wants him to. I think we can all see we have moved away from "selling to someone perfect for DCFC" to "selling to whoever I can". Hence the flirtations with Gabay, Dell, BZI, Alonso and loans, charges, refinancing etc etc . He's personally bankrolled the club for the last year or so without wanting to/ got loans to cover costs, and if someone doesn't like the look of £1m plus leaving his personal bank account every month with no end in sight he won't worry too much about selling to whoever comes up with the cash first. 
Therefore, as noble as your sentiments undoubtedly are, he can't guarantee anything - the future of the club, that he will continue to bankroll it etc etc because it doesn't represent the reality. He could do all you say but he doesn't want to (and he has that right), and that's the crucial point, and therefore coming out and saying all will be well, I'll sell to the perfect DCFC buyer and will continue to fund the club until that happens is disingenuous. That was the point I was trying to make.
2) As for Stephen Pearce, everyone will have their view regards his ability as a leader and CEO, but the fact is for the last two years he's been operating in an environment where there is no strategic direction, where decisions are impossible given constant takeovers hanging over the club, where he has to find money month after month from somewhere to pay the wages. Then Covid hit, and for the last 14 months he's had to run a club with zero income. It's a hard job and in my opinion he deserves credit for keeping it going rather than calls for his resignation.  
 
 
 

Well, the feeling's mutual so I'm sorry to disappoint you; I'll try to explain where I'm coming from as we're on the same page with a lot of what you say.
1) I'm not necessarily arguing with your assessment of Mel's tenure; my point is that if he has had enough (and he clearly has) and wants out asap, he has nothing to gain by making the type of public statements that @therams69 wants him to. I think we can all see we have moved away from "selling to someone perfect for DCFC" to "selling to whoever I can". Hence the flirtations with Gabay, Dell, BZI, Alonso and loans, charges, refinancing etc etc . He's personally bankrolled the club for the last year or so without wanting to/ got loans to cover costs, and if someone doesn't like the look of £1m plus leaving his personal bank account every month with no end in sight he won't worry too much about selling to whoever comes up with the cash first. 
Therefore, as noble as your sentiments undoubtedly are, he can't guarantee anything - the future of the club, that he will continue to bankroll it etc etc because it doesn't represent the reality. He could do all you say but he doesn't want to (and he has that right), and that's the crucial point, and therefore coming out and saying all will be well, I'll sell to the perfect DCFC buyer and will continue to fund the club until that happens is disingenuous. That was the point I was trying to make.
2) As for Stephen Pearce, everyone will have their view regards his ability as a leader and CEO, but the fact is for the last two years he's been operating in an environment where there is no strategic direction, where decisions are impossible given constant takeovers hanging over the club, where he has to find money month after month from somewhere to pay the wages. Then Covid hit, and for the last 14 months he's had to run a club with zero income. It's a hard job and in my opinion he deserves credit for keeping it going rather than calls for his resignation.  
 
 
 

Well, the feeling's mutual so I'm sorry to disappoint you; I'll try to explain where I'm coming from as we're on the same page with a lot of what you say.
1) I'm not necessarily arguing with your assessment of Mel's tenure; my point is that if he has had enough (and he clearly has) and wants out asap, he has nothing to gain by making the type of public statements that @therams69 wants him to. I think we can all see we have moved away from "selling to someone perfect for DCFC" to "selling to whoever I can". Hence the flirtations with Gabay, Dell, BZI, Alonso and loans, charges, refinancing etc etc . He's personally bankrolled the club for the last year or so without wanting to/ got loans to cover costs, and if someone doesn't like the look of £1m plus leaving his personal bank account every month with no end in sight he won't worry too much about selling to whoever comes up with the cash first. 
Therefore, as noble as your sentiments undoubtedly are, he can't guarantee anything - the future of the club, that he will continue to bankroll it etc etc because it doesn't represent the reality. He could do all you say but he doesn't want to (and he has that right), and that's the crucial point, and therefore coming out and saying all will be well, I'll sell to the perfect DCFC buyer and will continue to fund the club until that happens is disingenuous. That was the point I was trying to make.
2) As for Stephen Pearce, everyone will have their view regards his ability as a leader and CEO, but the fact is for the last two years he's been operating in an environment where there is no strategic direction, where decisions are impossible given constant takeovers hanging over the club, where he has to find money month after month from somewhere to pay the wages. Then Covid hit, and for the last 14 months he's had to run a club with zero income. It's a hard job and in my opinion he deserves credit for keeping it going rather than calls for his resignation.  
 
 
 

I am a bit surprised by this post. Mainly because I usually agree with, and enjoy, most things you post (I won’t let this indiscretion affect my judgement ??). But your last two paragraphs are nonsense.
1) Mel Morris signed up to own and lead this club and he has failed pretty miserably. He knew the risks of his investment, but imagined and gambled he could quickly bankroll us in to the Prem. As I said, he has failed miserably, but hey ho some you win, some you lose. Mel Morris is still a very wealthy man. Yes he’s ‘lost’ perhaps £200m of his fortune to Derby, but he still ranks very highly in the UK as one of its most wealthiest individuals. He has a duty as owner and custodian of the club to ensure it is properly financed until the day he leaves, and that when he leaves it is in no worse financial position than when he took over. He also has in my view an obligation to ensure that the person he ultimately sells to is a fit and proper person to run a football club, and has the wherewithal to support the club through thick and thin. There is no reason whatsoever in my view that Mel Morris cannot commit publicly to both those matters now, and whenever asked in the future.
2) Whilst nobody should knock Pearce for his excellent accountancy skills, he is only as good in that regard as FRC Regulations and his Casio calculator allow. Now me, I would like the Club’s CEO to be a bit less “Smithers” and actually direct the Club in the right direction.
Up the Rams. Easy 3 nil win tomorrow. Thank god we have Mac in the background directing things ?

We don't have to be geniuses to work out that the club is in dire financial straights. Yet again the club cannot afford to pay its players and Mel has to dip into his own pocket. This is a situation that has been going on for well over a year. 
We have flirted with Gabay, with Dell, with BZI, with Alonso. Refinancing, loans, stadium sold etc. 
What would be gained by Mel saying anything right now? The only thing he can say is we're in the poo. And I think we already know that. How can he give assurances about the club's future? How can he say it'll all be alright if the takeover fails because quite obviously it won't be, although what that won't be looks like we don't know.
As for Stephen Pearce, he deserves a medal for keeping the club above water over the last 2 years, not being told to resign. 

We don't have to be geniuses to work out that the club is in dire financial straights. Yet again the club cannot afford to pay its players and Mel has to dip into his own pocket. This is a situation that has been going on for well over a year. 
We have flirted with Gabay, with Dell, with BZI, with Alonso. Refinancing, loans, stadium sold etc. 
What would be gained by Mel saying anything right now? The only thing he can say is we're in the poo. And I think we already know that. How can he give assurances about the club's future? How can he say it'll all be alright if the takeover fails because quite obviously it won't be, although what that won't be looks like we don't know.
As for Stephen Pearce, he deserves a medal for keeping the club above water over the last 2 years, not being told to resign. 

We don't have to be geniuses to work out that the club is in dire financial straights. Yet again the club cannot afford to pay its players and Mel has to dip into his own pocket. This is a situation that has been going on for well over a year. 
We have flirted with Gabay, with Dell, with BZI, with Alonso. Refinancing, loans, stadium sold etc. 
What would be gained by Mel saying anything right now? The only thing he can say is we're in the poo. And I think we already know that. How can he give assurances about the club's future? How can he say it'll all be alright if the takeover fails because quite obviously it won't be, although what that won't be looks like we don't know.
As for Stephen Pearce, he deserves a medal for keeping the club above water over the last 2 years, not being told to resign. 

This just about sums it up. Either or for me, doesn't make a huge difference. Both can be great on their day, but can chuck the odd howler. I think we've more important things to be worried about.

I don't know what @Roymac reasons are, but I agree that Cocu had to go and Rooney, at the moment, deserves to stay. I'll offer you some reasons: 
Comparing win rate is unfair given that one had a season and a quarter and one has had half a season. David Lowe had a 100% win record when he took over for the Man U semi final a few years ago. Does it make him the best DCFC manager ever? 
Cocu had to go because while he started ok, and only ok, the end of last season / start of this season's form was horrendous. The players clearly weren't buying it. We were bottom of the table. The football was dire. It was the right decision.
Under Rooney, the initial bounce saw us win games and move up the table. The last 16 game or so have been awful. The football is terrible and the players look shot and devoid of, frankly, anything. 
The only two things Rooney has in his corner at the moment are that he has removed a team from the bottom and we might yet stay up. The second, which is important, is that Cocu bought in his own coaching team while Rooney has had to deal with having Rosenior, Given and Walker foisted upon him, which has proven to be a failed project. Two bits of mitigation which I'd say just about, and only just, keep Rooney afloat.
If we stay up, he deserves a crack at it again next season but only with the caveat of him having his own team, with some proper experience, around him.  If we start with the same coaching setup next year, forget it.
If we go down, he's toast as far as I'm concerned as he's failed in his remit, just like Cocu was doing. 
 

Good post, well made points.
I disagree, yes, it's a rum hand he was dealt but he's then played it pretty badly and the sheer lack of belief in the team says to me he's not gonna make it here.
For me, I want him gone after Saturday even if we stay up, but it's a point for discussion.

This just about sums it up. Either or for me, doesn't make a huge difference. Both can be great on their day, but can chuck the odd howler. I think we've more important things to be worried about.

I don't know what @Roymac reasons are, but I agree that Cocu had to go and Rooney, at the moment, deserves to stay. I'll offer you some reasons: 
Comparing win rate is unfair given that one had a season and a quarter and one has had half a season. David Lowe had a 100% win record when he took over for the Man U semi final a few years ago. Does it make him the best DCFC manager ever? 
Cocu had to go because while he started ok, and only ok, the end of last season / start of this season's form was horrendous. The players clearly weren't buying it. We were bottom of the table. The football was dire. It was the right decision.
Under Rooney, the initial bounce saw us win games and move up the table. The last 16 game or so have been awful. The football is terrible and the players look shot and devoid of, frankly, anything. 
The only two things Rooney has in his corner at the moment are that he has removed a team from the bottom and we might yet stay up. The second, which is important, is that Cocu bought in his own coaching team while Rooney has had to deal with having Rosenior, Given and Walker foisted upon him, which has proven to be a failed project. Two bits of mitigation which I'd say just about, and only just, keep Rooney afloat.
If we stay up, he deserves a crack at it again next season but only with the caveat of him having his own team, with some proper experience, around him.  If we start with the same coaching setup next year, forget it.
If we go down, he's toast as far as I'm concerned as he's failed in his remit, just like Cocu was doing. 
 

Quiet day at work?

Ah, so it'll be done in 48 hours. 
Now where have I heard that before?

Ah, so it'll be done in 48 hours. 
Now where have I heard that before?

I think a number of fans are asking for refunds because they are not as well off as they were pre-covid and can't afford to lose a 'few hundred pounds'. Lots of people have lost jobs, businesses, homes even over the last year so to dismiss them as hysterical is not on in my book. 

Roos is a decent keeper. You won’t find a better no.2 in the league. If Derby fans hadn’t ruined his confidence, he could be even better. Lampard and our negativity are more to blame at Wembley than Roos. Glad he’s doing well. 

People are being a bit over-sensitive here. Rooney was asked about Sibley specifically and answered. He didn’t ‘single him out’. 
He’s right to as well if he knows what Sibley can produce but isn’t doing so in training or when he comes on.
Today he’s had 20 mins and was anonymous as anyone else other than missing a good chance from a corner. If you’re a sub you’ve got to go on and do something different, otherwise there’s no point going on. 
 
I’m of the opinion that he’s due a couple of starts because those starting ahead of him aren’t delivering. But if the manager thinks he will respond to a kick up the backside, then time will tell if he’s right.

People are being a bit over-sensitive here. Rooney was asked about Sibley specifically and answered. He didn’t ‘single him out’. 
He’s right to as well if he knows what Sibley can produce but isn’t doing so in training or when he comes on.
Today he’s had 20 mins and was anonymous as anyone else other than missing a good chance from a corner. If you’re a sub you’ve got to go on and do something different, otherwise there’s no point going on. 
 
I’m of the opinion that he’s due a couple of starts because those starting ahead of him aren’t delivering. But if the manager thinks he will respond to a kick up the backside, then time will tell if he’s right.

People are being a bit over-sensitive here. Rooney was asked about Sibley specifically and answered. He didn’t ‘single him out’. 
He’s right to as well if he knows what Sibley can produce but isn’t doing so in training or when he comes on.
Today he’s had 20 mins and was anonymous as anyone else other than missing a good chance from a corner. If you’re a sub you’ve got to go on and do something different, otherwise there’s no point going on. 
 
I’m of the opinion that he’s due a couple of starts because those starting ahead of him aren’t delivering. But if the manager thinks he will respond to a kick up the backside, then time will tell if he’s right.