Derby County Win £60 Million Final
Defeating West Bromwich Albion at Wembley in Championship Play-off
Derby County gained promotion by defeating West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-off Final at Wembley in a game that could be worth £60 million to the club.
Derby County returned to the Premiership by defeating West Bromwich Albion at Wembley in a game that could be worth £60 million to the club. The single goal after an hour by Stephen Pearson won a game that had been dominated by West Bromwich who had created the better chances.
Defeat for West Bromwich Albion means that they failed to complete the trio of relegated clubs returning to the Premiership at the first attempt, Sunderland and Birmingham City having achieved automatic promotion.
Derby County had finished third in the Coca-Cola Championship, eight points ahead of West Brom so they will feel that the final promotion place was rightfully theirs.
Both clubs had appointed new managers last summer and Billy Davies who missed out in play-offs on two occasions with his former club, Preston North End, will be relieved that his team who had led the Championship table for some time and looked to be set for automatic promotion, finally achieved their goal.
Relegation in 2002
Since their relegation in 2002, Derby County have struggled to make any impact in the League, finishing three of the five seasons in the lower reaches of the division, just above the relegation zone. In 2005 they finished fourth but lost in the play-off games and after finishing 20th last season, new manager, Billy Davies, has managed a remarkable change in their fortunes.
Derby Managers
Derby had spent six years in the Premiership before their relegation and after a couple of seasons in mid-table they gradually slipped down towards eventual relegation. Their relegation season had seen them with three managers – Jim Smith who resigned to be replaced by his assistant, former player Colin Todd. Todd lasted only three months and was replaced by John Gregory who was unable to save them from relegation.
The drop out of the Premiership brought financial difficulties to the club who had to sell many players and rely on younger, inexperienced players. Difficulties in the boardroom surrounded the club at this time and the constant change of manager didn’t help the team. Gregory was replaced by Phil Brown who was sacked in January, 2006 and under the caretaker manager, they avoided relegation and Davies was appointed at the end of the season.
While Derby County have successfully returned to the top flight, as with all promoted clubs, they will find it difficult to compete in the Premiership. The manager will spend the summer searching for additional players to strengthen his side before the season resumes in early August.
