It’s time to stop promoting clubs who can’t cut it

Apr 18 2008 South Wales Echo

The Boot Room with Ian Carbis

DERBY County’s stay in the Premiership may have been brief, but they are smashing records as they head towards the exit door.

The Rams were relegated on March 29, the earliest in the league’s history – though bookmakers Paddy Power paid out five games into the season.

They have found the net just 16 times, which means a goal difference of minus 58, already a record, and suffered six-goal hammerings three times.

At the moment, with just 12 points, Derby are averaging 0.32 points a game, even less than the poor Sunderland side of 2005-6 (0.39 points).

The stats speak for themselves and Derby’s woeful record begs the question – how did they get there?

It’s easy to forget that the Pride Park side finished in third place in the 2006-7 Coca-Cola Championship, just two points off the automatic promotion places taken by Sunderland and Birmingham.

They finished eight points clear of fourth-placed West Brom, the side they beat in the play-off final at Wembley, so it seemed like justice was done.

But the Baggies that day arguably looked better equipped to survive in the top flight and the 1-0 defeat meant the likes of Jason Koumas, Diomansy Kamara, Paul McShane and Curtis Davies all left to pursue higher ambitions.

By contrast, most of Derby’s squad that day have found themselves back in the Championship. Stephen Bywater, Matt Oakley, Steve Howard, Craig Fagan and even match-winner Stephen Pearson have dropped back to the second level where, perhaps, they belong.

Manager Billy Davies, who revelled in the Wembley moment, has also long since gone, leaving Paul Jewell to pick over the wreckage which continues to sink to deeper depths.

Of course, the Derby board will be comforted by the minimum £30m they’ll pick up for finishing a poor last in the Premiership, but it’s a real case of money for mediocrity.

So what to do? The league will never abandon their play-off cash cow, perhaps it’s time to reduce the promoted teams from three to two.

It may not close the gap between the haves and the have-nots in the Premiership, but it might prevent another club becoming an embarrassment to their supporters.

Spanish side in strike threat
PLAYERS at Spanish club Levante have again threatened strike action over unpaid wages.

The Valencia-based side are 15 points from safety at the foot of La Liga in this campaign with six games to go, but are struggling financially after plans to sell their stadium fell through.

“We have worked honourably and fought hard for a long time. If there is no solution before April 26 we will go on strike,” said defender Luis Rubiles.

“We recognise that this decision has an adverse effect on many people, but we are certainly the ones who are suffering. We are sure the fans are behind us.”

Colombian bosses out of control
IF referees chief Keith Hackett thinks Premiership managers need to show more discipline, he should see how things are shaping up in Colombia.

A total of nine bosses have been sent off this season, with America’s Diego Umana recently banned for 11 games for punching his Deportivo Cali counterpart during a game.

The latest coach to be suspended was Millonarios’ Mario Alberto Vanemerak, who kicked and knocked down a dressing room door and damaged a water-heater following a 2-0 defeat at Pasto.

The Argentine received a three-month ban, and then found himself out of a job after the Bogota club lost their next match, 4-0 at home to Boyaca Chico.

Warnock takes up the whistle
THAT scourge of referees, Neil Warnock, is taking up the whistle – for one match only.

The Crystal Palace boss, who has battled the men in black throughout his managerial career, will be in the middle for former Plymouth striker Micky Evans’ testimonial on April 29.

Current Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock will manage one of the teams and is looking forward to it.

“It should be a sight to behold. It will be interesting to see if Neil makes any mistakes,” he said.

Evans, 35, is donating 75 per cent of the proceeds from the match, in which Matt Le Tissier will also play, to a number of charities.

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