Derby have parted ways with head coach Paul Warne following a dismal run of results that has left them languishing in the Championship relegation zone.
A 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United at the weekend saw the Rams drop to 22nd in the table, sitting two points adrift of safety with just 16 matches left to play. #
Their current slump includes seven consecutive Championship losses – their worst league run in 17 years – and a total of eight defeats in all competitions since late December.
Warne, who took charge at Pride Park in September 2022 a few months after Wayne Rooney stepped down as Derby boss, guided the club to promotion from League One last season, securing their return to the second tier at the first time of asking. However, their struggles this campaign have led the club to take decisive action.
Club owner David Clowes acknowledged Warne’s contributions, stating: “No fan should ever forget his contribution. Results in football dictate decisions and we felt that to give us the best chance of retaining our Championship status, the time was right to make a change.”
Warne arrived at Derby shortly after the club emerged from administration under Clowes’ ownership. Tasked with rebuilding a depleted squad, he relied heavily on free transfers and loan signings to assemble a competitive side for their League One campaign.
It is with regret that Derby County have decided to relieve Paul Warne of his position.
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) February 7, 2025
His impressive track record at Rotherham United, where he achieved promotion from League One three times, saw him hailed as the “King of League One” upon his appointment.
However, his first season at Derby ended in disappointment as they failed to reach the play-offs. The following year, he delivered automatic promotion, reinforcing his reputation for success in the third tier.
A solid start to this season saw the Rams sitting 11th in November, but since then, their form has nosedived. An FA Cup exit at the hands of League One’s Leyton Orient added to the growing frustration among supporters.
Should Derby suffer another defeat against Norwich on Saturday, they will match an unwanted milestone – only the third time in the club’s 141-year history that they have lost eight consecutive league matches in a single season. The first occurrence of such a streak dates back to 1888, the inaugural year of league football in England.