2007–08 Derby County F.C. season

Derby's season began with a 2–2 draw against Portsmouth on the opening day of the season, followed by a narrow 1–0 defeat away to Sven-Göran Eriksson's Manchester City (the only two games which Derby spent outside the bottom three), but then conceded a total of 12 goals in three successive defeats. Following their 6–0 defeat to Liverpool on 1 September 2007, Irish bookmakers Paddy Power decided to pay out on the club to be relegated after just five games of the new season.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Power+ready+to+pay+out+on+Rams+falling.-a0168224148 |title=Power ready to pay out on Rams falling | first=Mark | last=Langdon |work=Racing Post|date=1 September 2007|access-date=9 November 2013}} The poor start saw fans accuse Gadsby and the board of failing to invest properly in players for the club. The repercussions of this saw Trevor Birch leave his position as Chief Executive on 19 October 2007[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7053629.stm Birch leaves Derby chief exec job] BBC Sport Online and, on 29 October 2007, Gadsby stepped down as chairman to be replaced by former Hull City owner Adam Pearson.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7067444.stm New Derby chairman backs Davies] BBC Sport Online

Meanwhile, results on the pitch were not improving, with another poor performance away to Aston Villa followed up by a 5–0 home defeat against a West Ham United side ravaged by injuries. After taking just 6 points from 14 matches, including their only win of the season with a 1-0 victory against Newcastle United, Davies left by mutual consent after a meeting with Adam Pearson, taking nearly all of his newly assembled backroom staff with him.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080724055356/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/derby/article2946767.ece Bily Davies leaves Derby by mutual consent] Times online The club had just been beaten 2–0 at home to Chelsea and were rooted to the bottom of the table. After the game, Davies had publicly criticised Derby's board for a lack of investment. Some critics believed that Davies was a victim of his own success after overachieving in his first season at Pride Park,{{cite news|work=BBC Sport|title=Billy Davies leaves Derby County|date=27 November 2007|access-date=2 December 2007|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/content/articles/2007/11/26/davies_departure_2007_feature.shtml}} while others cited his apparent tactical inefficiencies at top flight level, poor big money signings (including £3m Claude Davis{{Cite news|publisher=therams.co.uk|title=Gerald Mortimer: No sad farewell to Davis|date=2 September 2009|access-date=9 November 2013|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Gerald-Mortimer-sad-farewell-Davis/story-11592105-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027182308/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Gerald-Mortimer-sad-farewell-Davis/story-11592105-detail/story.html|archive-date=27 October 2014|url-status=dead}}) and suggested Davies had engineered his own departure, in the form of an outspoken rant against the board{{Cite news|work=The Guardian|title=Davies rages at Derby dilemma|date=25 November 2007|access-date=9 November 2013|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/25/match.chelsea|location=London|first=Jamie|last=Jackson}} so as to avoid having a relegation on his CV.

Within two days of Davies's dismissal, on 26 November 2007, Derby appointed highly rated former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2326932/Paul-Jewell-appointed-Derby-manager.html Paul Jewell appointed Derby manager] Telegraph He initially appointed Stan Ternent as his assistant but, when Ternent left to become Huddersfield Town manager in April, Jewell moved to appoint Chris Hutchings{{cite news| title = Hutchings set to take Derby role| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7364460.stm| work = BBC Sport| date = 24 April 2008| access-date = 24 April 2008}} who had been his assistant at both Bradford City and Wigan. Jewell's first match in charge was a 1–0 defeat away at Sunderland on 1 December 2007, the winning goal coming in stoppage time. Although performances improved under Jewell, results didn't. The team developed a habit of conceding late goals and following the defeat to Sunderland, Derby conceded late winners or equalisers in seven games between late December 2007 and late January 2008, dropping seven points from games they had been winning or drawing. Many at the club had in fact already accepted relegation by the end of December 2007.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Jewell was busy in the January 2008 transfer window, selling several players and bringing eight new players in, namely Everton defender Alan Stubbs,{{cite news|title=Stubbs Brings Steel|url=http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230028,00.html|publisher=dcfc.co.uk|date=31 January 2008|access-date=9 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105164920/http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230028,00.html|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=dead}} Argentine striker Emanuel Villa,{{cite news |title=Rams sign Argentine striker Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7166848.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=4 January 2008}} ex-England international defender Danny Mills on loan from Manchester City, Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7166114.stm|title=Savage completes switch to Derby |date=9 January 2008|work=BBC Sport}} French winger Laurent Robert, Tottenham's Egyptian midfielder Hossam Ghaly on loan,{{cite news| title = Hossam Ghaly recruited for Derby's rescue effort| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3168714.ece| publisher = Timesonline.co.uk | date = 1 November 2007 | location=London| first1=Gary| last1=Jacob| first2=Peter| last2=Lansley| first3=Nick| last3=Szczepanik}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Gençlerbirliği's Mile Sterjovski{{cite news| title = Derby complete Sterjovski signing| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7180692.stm| work = BBC Sport | date = 24 January 2007}} and Rangers goalkeeper Roy Carroll.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7258258.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=Carroll Extends Derby Stay|date=22 February 2008}}

On 28 January 2008, it was announced that Derby had been purchased by American group General Sports and Entertainment, with Tom Glick taking the role of new President and Chief Executive.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7210230.stm|title=New owners reveal Derby ambition|date=28 January 2008|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} Derby's relegation was confirmed on 29 March, the first time a club had been relegated from the division before April and sealing the club's first immediate relegation following promotion in its history. Poor results continued: a 6–0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa on 12 April 2008 is the biggest defeat at Pride Park and, by the season's end, Derby had recorded the Premier League's lowest points total{{cite news |title=Dismal Derby take Cats' sad place in the record books |url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/dismal-derby-take-cats-sad-place-in-the-record-books-1-1149317 |publisher=Sunderland Echo |date=29 March 2008 |access-date=9 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102124833/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/dismal-derby-take-cats-sad-place-in-the-record-books-1-1149317 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=dead }} and equalled Loughborough's 108-year Football League record of going through an entire season with only one win. Their final game of the season was a 4–0 home defeat to Reading, who were also relegated.

{{main|2007–08 Premier League}}Manchester United were Premier League Champions in the 2007/2008 Season.{{:2007–08 Premier League|showteam=DER}}

:Squad at end of season

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player |no=1 | nat=WAL | pos=GK | name= Lewis Price}}

{{Fs player |no=2 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Marc Edworthy}}

{{Fs player |no=4 | nat=SCO | pos=DF | name= Jay McEveley}}

{{Fs player |no=5 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Dean Leacock}}

{{Fs player |no=6 | nat=JAM | pos=DF | name= Michael Johnson}}

{{Fs player |no=7 | nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=David Jones}}

{{Fs player |no=8 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Alan Stubbs}}

{{Fs player |no=9 | nat=ARG | pos=FW | name= Emanuel Villa}}

{{Fs player |no=10| nat=WAL | pos=FW | name= Robert Earnshaw}}

{{Fs player |no=14| nat=SCO | pos=FW | name= Kenny Miller}}

{{Fs player |no=15| nat=USA | pos=MF | name= Eddie Lewis}}

{{fs player |no=16| nat=SCO | pos=MF | name= Gary Teale}}

{{Fs player |no=17| nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Andy Todd}}

{{Fs player |no=19| nat=JAM | pos=DF | name= Claude Davis}}

{{fs player |no=20| nat=ENG | pos=MF | name= Lee Holmes}}

{{Fs player |no=21| nat=AUS | pos=MF | name= Mile Sterjovski}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player |no=22| nat=USA | pos=MF | name= Benny Feilhaber}}

{{Fs player |no=23| nat=JAM | pos=DF |name=Darren Moore}}

{{Fs player |no=24| nat=JAM | pos=DF | name= Tyrone Mears}}

{{Fs player |no=25| nat=SCO | pos=MF | name= Stephen Pearson}}

{{Fs player |no=28| nat=JAM | pos=MF | name= Giles Barnes}}

{{Fs player |no=29| nat=ENG | pos=GK | name= Ben Hinchliffe}}

{{fs player |no=30| nat=WAL | pos=DF | name= Lewin Nyatanga}}

{{Fs player |no=31| nat=NIR | pos=GK | name= Roy Carroll}}

{{Fs player |no=32| nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Miles Addison}}

{{Fs player |no=33| nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Mitchell Hanson}}

{{Fs player |no=34| nat=ENG | pos=MF | name= Matthew Richards}}

{{Fs player |no=35| nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Jason Beardsley}}

{{Fs player |no=40| nat=EGY | pos=MF | name= Hossam Ghaly|other=on loan from Tottenham}}

{{Fs player |no=41| nat=ENG | pos=FW | name= Paris Simmons}}

{{Fs player |no=44| nat=WAL | pos=MF | name= Robbie Savage|other=captain}}

{{Fs player |no= | nat=AUS | pos=MF | name= Ruben Zadkovich}}

{{Fs end}}

{{Fs start}}

{{fs player |no=3 | nat=GUI | pos=DF | name= Mo Camara|other=on loan to Norwich City}}

{{fs player |no=8 | nat=ENG | pos=MF | name= Matt Oakley|other=to Leicester City}}

{{fs player |no=9 | nat=SCO | pos=FW | name= Steve HowardHoward was born in Durham, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and represented them at B level.|other=to Leicester City}}

{{Fs player |no=11| nat=ENG | pos=MF | name= Craig Fagan|other=on loan to Hull City}}

{{fs player |no=12| nat=IRL | pos=FW | name= Jon MackenMacken was born in Blackley, England, and represented them at U-20 level, but also qualifies to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in August 2004.|other=to Barnsley}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{fs player |no=18| nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Andy Griffin|other=to Stoke City}}

{{fs player |no=21| nat=SCO | pos=DF | name= Bob Malcolm|other=to Motherwell}}

{{fs player |no=26| nat=FRA | pos=MF | name= Laurent Robert|other=to Toronto FC}}

{{Fs player |no=27| nat=ENG | pos=DF | name= Danny Mills|other=on loan from Manchester City}}

{{fs player |no=43| nat=ENG | pos=GK | name= Stephen Bywater|other=on loan to Ipswich Town}}

{{Fs end}}

• 29 June 2007 – Robert Earnshaw – £3.5m, from Norwich City{{cite news

| title = Derby sign £3.5m striker Earnshaw| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6254710.stm

| publisher = BBC | work= BBC Sport| date = 29 June 2007| access-date = 5 May 2012}}

• 4 July 2007 – Tyrone Mears – £1m, from West Ham United{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6270026.stm|title=Derby complete signing of Mears|date=4 July 2007|access-date=5 May 2012|work=BBC Sport}}
• 7 July 2007 – Andy Todd – £750k, from Blackburn Rovers{{cite web | title=Todd joins Derby| work=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk | url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/1527918.todd_joins_derby/| date=7 July 2007|access-date=5 May 2012}}
• 10 July 2007 – Ben Hinchliffe – free transfer{{cite web | title=County tie up Todd swoop| work=football.co.uk | url=http://www.football.co.uk/derby_county/county_tie_up_todd_swoop_249292.shtml| date=10 July 2007|access-date=5 May 2012}}
• 25 July 2007 – Claude Davis – £3m, from Sheffield United[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6276226.stm "Davis agrees £3m switch to Derby"], BBC Sport, 6 July 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
• 26 July 2007 – Lewis Price – undisclosed, from Ipswich Town{{cite news

|title=Price completes transfer to Derby|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6918622.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=27 July 2007|access-date=5 May 2012}}

• 1 August 2007 – Andy Griffin – free transfer from Portsmouth{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6925923.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |title=Derby complete capture of Griffin |access-date=1 August 2007 |date=5 May 2012}}
• 10 August 2007 – Benny Feilhaber – undisclosed, from Hamburg{{cite news | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-08-09-3279345843_x.htm | title=U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber gets work permit to play for Derby County | newspaper=USA Today | agency=Associated Press | date=9 August 2007 | access-date=9 November 2013}}
• 20 August 2007 – Eddie Lewis – undisclosed, from Leeds United{{cite news|title=Eddie Lewis Is A Ram|publisher=dcfc.co.uk|url=http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1095930,00.html|date=20 August 2007|access-date=9 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110050954/http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1095930,00.html|archive-date=10 November 2013|url-status=dead}}
• 31 August 2007 – Kenny Miller – £2.25m, from Celtic{{cite news|title=Jewell demands fair Miller price| work=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7280869.stm| date=6 March 2008|access-date=5 May 2012}}

• 31 May 2007 – Seth Johnson – retirement{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6712833.stm |title=Experienced pair to leave Derby |access-date=5 May 2012|date=1 June 2007|work=BBC Sport}}
• 31 May 2007 – Lionel Ainsworth – released
• 31 May 2007 – Morten Bisgaard – released
• 31 May 2007 – Paul Boertien – released
• 31 May 2007 – Steven Cann – released
• 31 May 2007 – Tom Cumberworth – released
• 31 May 2007 – Lee Grant – released
• 5 July 2007 – Ryan Smith – £150k, to Millwall{{cite news|title=Millwall tie up Rams winger Smith |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/6253552.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=5 July 2007 |access-date=5 May 2012 }}
• 27 July 2007 – Lee Camp – £200k, to Queens Park Rangers{{cite web|url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1071616,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717035237/http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10373~1071616%2C00.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |title=Camp pens deal |publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C. |date=27 July 2007 |access-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}
• 31 July 2007 – James Meredith – free transfer to Sligo Rovers{{cite web|url=http://www.sligorovers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=384:sligo-rovers-announce-new-signings&catid=26:2007&Itemid=112 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930052148/http://www.sligorovers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=384%3Asligo-rovers-announce-new-signings&catid=26%3A2007&Itemid=112 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |title=Sligo Rovers announce new signings |publisher=Sligo Rovers F.C |date=31 July 2007 |access-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}
• 8 August 2007 – Richard Jackson – free transfer to Luton Town{{cite news| title =Luton sign ex-Derby man Jackson| publisher =BBC| date =8 August 2007| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/6936551.stm| access-date =5 May 2012 }}

• 4 January 2008 – Danny Mills – on loan from Manchester City{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2287985/Danny-Mills-joins-Derby-on-loan.html|title=Danny Mills joins Derby on loan|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=4 January 2008|access-date=5 May 2012}}
• 4 January 2008 – Emanuel Villa – £2m, from Estudiantes Tecos
• 9 January 2008 – Laurent Robert – free transfer{{cite news|title=Derby confirm signing of Robert|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7174189.stm|work=BBC Sport |date=11 January 2008|access-date=5 May 2012 }}
• 9 January 2008 – Robbie Savage – £1.5m, from Blackburn Rovers
• 11 January 2008 – Hossam Ghaly – on loan from Tottenham Hotspur
• 31 January 2008 – Roy Carroll – free transfer from Rangers{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7206567.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Derby capture goalkeeper Carroll|date=31 January 2008|access-date=5 May 2012}}
• 31 January 2008 – Mile Sterjovski – undisclosed, from Gençlerbirliği
• 31 January 2008 – Alan Stubbs – free transfer from Everton
• 11 April 2008 – Ruben Zadkovich – free transfer from Sydney FC{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7351979.stm|title=Derby complete Zadkovich signing|access-date=5 May 2012|date=17 April 2008|publisher=BBC}}

• 3 January 2008 – Steve Howard – £1.25m, to Leicester City{{cite news |title = Leicester confirm deal for Howard|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7165982.stm|work = BBC Sport|date = 1 January 2008|access-date = 5 May 2012}}
• 11 January 2008 – Andy Griffin – £300k, to Stoke City{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7182290.stm|title=Griffin ties up Potters transfer|work=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=11 January 2008|access-date=5 May 2012}}
• 11 January 2008 – Matt Oakley – £500k, to Leicester City{{cite news|title = Oakley secures Leicester switch|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7182920.stm|publisher = BBC|date = 11 January 2008|access-date = 5 May 2012}}
• 28 January 2008 – Jon Macken – £200k, to Barnsley{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/7213604.stm|title=Barnsley capture Macken from Rams|work=BBC Sport|date=28 January 2008|access-date=5 May 2012}}
• 31 January 2008 – Bob Malcolm – contract terminated{{cite web| title =Nyatanga and Malcolm head out| publisher =Derby County official website| date =31 January 2008| url =http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230490,00.html| access-date =5 May 2012| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131110051002/http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230490,00.html| archive-date =10 November 2013| url-status =dead}}
• 31 January 2008 – Lewin Nyatanga – loan to Barnsley
• 29 February 2008 – Michael Johnson – loan to Notts County{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11768/3215660/magpies-seal-rams-raid|title=Magpies seal Rams raid|access-date=9 November 2013|date=29 February 2008|publisher=Sky Sports}}
• 2 April 2008 – Laurent Robert – free transfer to Toronto FC{{cite news|title=Robert leaves Derby for Toronto |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7324508.stm|work=BBC Sport |date=2 April 2008|access-date=5 May 2012 }}

{{Reflist|group=notes}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080827201455/http://www.dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/ Derby County FC official site]
• [https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=747 Derby County FC on Soccerbase] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111045600/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=747 |date=11 January 2011 }}

{{Derby County F.C. seasons}}

{{2007–08 in English football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2007-08 Derby County F.C. season}}

Category:Derby County F.C. seasons

Derby County