Jack Bryan is a football writer and life long Derby County supporter.
After having surgery a few of weeks ago, I’m back and it is fair to say that a lot has happened since my last blog. Not only have I gained even more respect for the likes of Krystian Bielik, but the Rams have played eight games, including two relegation six pointers at home to Barnsley and Peterborough. We came away from each of those games with crucial wins, but bar that our form has been abysmal, particularly away from home, as has been the case all season.
In our most recent game, we played well, earning a good point at home to Coventry. The visitors took the lead when Matt Godden capped off a nice team move, before Tom Lawrence equalised from the spot in the second half. Malcom Ebiowei won man of the match, the eighteen year old impressing on the wing to become the latest in an ever-longer line of academy graduates who have thrived after being thrown in at the deep end this season. But, wins for Reading and Peterborough probably relegate us, as we are now bottom of the league, and eight points from safety. The two aforementioned teams, and Barnsley, also all have a game in hand.
However, survival is still mathematically possible, and for as long as that is the is the case, we shouldn’t give up. Who would have predicted that we’d have earned more points than we did across all of last season, and with seven games still to play? With the united playing squad, staff, and fanbase, which apparently includes George Clooney, anything could happen. And this is the Championship after all.
Whatever happens in these last seven games, I for one will be making the most of them. The announcement that Festy Ebosele will be joining Italian side Udinese on a free transfer in the summer was a reminder that players, including promising youngsters, who have given everything all season will likely leave this summer. The next transfer window could be painful, so let’s enjoy watching the likes of Ebosele whilst we can.
Of course, the future of the club is still not secure, despite the statement that came out prior to the Middlesbrough game. This raises doubts over whether we will even need to worry about the summer, and whether the rebuild that will need to take place with over 40 players across the first team and youth team out of contract come the end of June, will be in the Football League, or from the ground up in non-league.
In terms of exiting administration and Derby County being taken over, the latest statement came on Friday, from the joint administrators. In the statement, they said that they would be assessing ‘the merits of all bids received over the weekend of 26/27 March and will identify their preferred bidder” This will be the bid they feel “best secures the long term future of the Club.” The statement concludes: “Early next week the joint administrators will commence discussions with the EFL. Further to their approval to proceed, we will then be in a position to publicly name the preferred bidder.”
As much as there have been many false dawns when it comes to new owners in recent months and years, I’m trying to remain hopeful for a time when we can focus on the football, rather than the tumultuous off the pitch events that have occurred over the last six months, in which the club has been in administration, and long before that. As much as I want that to be in the Championship, or perhaps more realistically League One next season, I’m past caring about a potential further fifteen point deduction, and to a lesser extent, which division we play in.
Like so many others, I just want to continue to have a club to support, and up next for Derby are Preston North End, at home, on Saturday.
Comments