Football Season Review

Yet again this was a season of abject disappointment for Derby. The Rams have had an excellent squad for the last few years but promotion remains elusive and they were nowhere near achieving it this time around in a season with plenty of mixed thinking. Nigel Pearson started the season but ripped up the formula that Derby had enjoyed in past campaigns unsuccessfully. He was sacked early on with Steve McClaren returning. But as soon as promotion looked out of the equation, McClaren was sacked in March and replaced by Gary Rowett. Derby appear to have problems behind the scenes with chief executive Sam Rush also dismissed. They appear to have allowed a good chance of promotion to pass them by despite an excellent mid-season run under McClaren. But they may now have the right man in Rowett who has impressed at other clubs and should add a lot of security to the club. It promises to be a big summer for Rowett in terms of squad reorganisation though. The situation concerning Chris Martin also needs resolving. Martin was surprisingly allowed to join Fulham on a season-long loan by Pearson but he went on strike in a bid to return to Derby under McClaren mid-season unsuccessfully. Martin could be a big player next term.

Player of the Season: Scott Carson