Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pearce has made a promise to Derby County supporters if promotion to the Championship is achieved.
Derby County are on track to win promotion out of League One at the second time of asking. The Rams are four points clear of third following their crucial victory over Bolton Wanderers.
While Derby have a cushion to the rest, there still promises to be plenty of twists and turns to come in the final seven games, but Paul Warne can be proud of his team so far.
Warne was forced to operate on a shoestring budget in the summer transfer window as the EFL restricted the Rams transfer dealings following David Clowes takeover in July 2022.
As a result, the Derby boss has had to rely predominantly on loans and free transfers during his time at Pride Park, although the signing of Corey Blackett-Taylor did cost the club a loan fee of £300,000 with the 26-year-old joining for free in the summer.
The permanent acquisition of Blackett-Taylor suggests money is there to be spent and CEO Stephen Pearce has told supporters that they will build a competitive squad if the club are promoted.
Stephen Pearce says Derby County will build a competitive squad
Derby’s recruitment team, spearheaded by the needs of Warne, have proven that it isn’t imperative to spend money to build a successful squad.
With the likes of Curtis Nelson arriving on a free transfer, arguably the Rams’ signing of the season, the club have found success in shopping for bargains.
If they were to get promoted, however, Stephen Pearce has promised supporters that Derby will spend money to build a competitive squad in the Championship instead of just making up the numbers.
Speaking at the Derby County fans forum last night, Pearce said: “We’re not there to make up the numbers, we want to compete and we will make sure there is a competitive wage bill and squad to do that.”
Derby County’s transfer policy will be tested in the Championship
There isn’t much pressure attached when a club acquires players on loan or a free transfer, but expectations rise when money is being thrown around.
As previously mentioned by Pearce, it looks as though Derby would spend money in the Championship and build a competitive squad.
Of course, promotion will have to be achieved first – but if it is – Rams supporters will discover if Clowes has deep enough pockets to get his side challenging in the second tier.
There’s a huge difference between shopping for free transfers and spending big money on a player.
And it would be intriguing to see how Derby attack their transfer policy in the Championship and whether Pearce sticks to his promise.