Derby's crown as the worst team in the Premier League's history was confirmed the other week after drawing 2-2 with Fulham (sadly, actually one of our better results this season).

With relegation to the Championship finally confirmed Paul Jewell can now start planning for next season, not that I suppose he was under any illusions about avoiding relegation in the first place. A pessimistic tone; however one which I think most other Derby County fans would echo.

So where do Derby go from here? Can they bounce straight back next season, pulling off another surprise promotion? It could happen. The money earned from participation, ( and i use this term loosely), in the premier league this season will be invaluable, as will the investment coming in from across the Atlantic although it remains to be seen whether GSE's vision of establishing Derby as a 'renound Premier League force' is a realistic one.

The dangers of relegation to the championship are plain to see. we need only to look to the example of our rivals Leicester, Nottingham Forest and more further afield, Leeds, to see what can go wrong.

The most worrying aspect for me, is that i'm not entirely sure that our current squad is any better than a mid table championship side. At least we don't have to worry about holding on to our players at the end of season, as no in thier right mind would buy them. Shame!

On the plus side i think we have two or three players who look like they have the quality to do well next year. Paul Jewell looks set to offer Hosam Ghaly a contract extension if he continues to impress and David Jones stands out in an ordinairy midfield. Robbie Savage has been poor since joining from Blackburn, and it remains to be seen whether his combative/irritating edge will reermerge in the championship. Alan Stubbs in defence is a marked improvement on what has gone before, which in all honesty is not difficult.

At times this season Derby's defending has been comical; looking at the pacey back four of Andy Griffin, Andy Todd, Darren Moore and Dean Leacock, you can see why. I think Andy Todd's display against Liverpool was a particular high for me...when his exquisite dept touch set up Fernando Torres for yet another goal. Or perhaps it was Bob Malcoms display in the midfield during the same game, taking time out in midfiled to seemingly enjoy the atmosphere until he was unsurprisingly and inevitably dispposessed leading to further damage to Derby's goal difference.

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