EFL Allow Derby County to Sign Out of Contract Players

EFL Allow Derby County Room to Sign Out of Contract Players

Summer of Woe Shows Small Signs of Improvement for Wayne Rooney

John Percy of The Telegraph has reported that Rooney and Derby County have received permission to sign out of contract players after they decided it would be unfair to put pressure onto the club to play academy players, who had lost against Chorley in the 2021/21 FA Cup

The need to use academy players in that defeat was due to an outbreak of covid and it stopped any of his 23 man squad being able to take part.

Lack of Senior Players at Derby County

Derby took on Manchester United on Sunday July 18 at Pride Park in a pre-season friendly defeat and only had nine senior players available with five of those who took part having no contract at all. For Rooney, he will now at least be able to work to try and have a 23 man squad available for the first game of the Championship season on August 7 when they take on Huddersfield Town.

Salary Scrutiny

Derby had a salary embargo placed upon them after a financial report found they had failed to meet guidelines. This means that any salaries offered to out of contract players will be closely scrutinised by the EFL.

Any contracts that are agreed will also only be allowed to be for one season for a permanent deal. If it is a loan signing then it can only be for half a season, meaning that, although it is some good news for the club, they will still be working with much uncertainty hanging over them.