Football Season Guide

Derby County head into a second season of Championship football looking to consolidate their place in the division under head coach John Eustace. Eustace was appointed in February following the sacking of Paul Warne. The Rams had just lost seven on the bounce and there were real fears they were heading for an immediate return to League One. Warne was never really accepted by County fans despite having guided them to promotion from League One and it always felt like he was on borrowed time. Eustace’s arrival was greeted rather more warmly, not least having finished his playing career at Pride Park. That warmth grew as the side scraped to safety, finishing in 19th place, just a solitary point above the drop zone. It was a close shave and the club are still dealing with the consequences of the financial chaos inflicted on the club by previous owner Mel Morris. David Clowes took the Rams out of administration when completing his takeover in 2022 and continues to run a tight, financially prudent ship. Eustace therefore will be working with a small squad again this season, which suits him just fine, and he has cleared out some of the dead wood this summer. He also made some shrewd additions in centre-back Danny Baath and striker Andreas Weimann, who both have Championship experience. Striker Carlton Morris has signed having been playing Premier League football with Luton Town recently. Left-back Owen Beck has joined on a season-long loan from Liverpool and will bring some youthful exuberance alongside his undoubted quality. Keeping hold of his best players will also be key for Eustace, most notably midfield powerhouse Ebou Adams, who has attracted some suitors this summer. Goalkeeper Jacob Zetterström established himself as the first-choice No. 1 whilst the reliable Craig Forsyth is a stalwart at the back.