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How much is enough for the Rams new squad?

Last updated : 16 April 2008 By Rams Mad Editor

Billy Davies
Billy Davies already spent the first of the Rams parachute payments
Derby County have revealed that they have spent the first years parachute payment of £12.3m before they were relegated to the Championship. In a statement from the club they revealed that Billy Davies spent the money on Rob Earnshaw, Claude Davis and Kenny Miller.

So we have spent £12.3m but surely we earned £60m from the play-off final and haven't the new owners of the club pumped in £50m? By our estimation after paying off bank debts, promotion bonuses and other incidentals there may be around £50m left for rebuilding the team etc, just how much of that is for spending is not known.

The parachute payments only come into effect when the team is relegated to the Championship and last for two years, so at least £12m should be available for team building if we use next years parachute payment in advance, plus any further money gained from player sales.

Sales of Kenny Miller and Giles Barnes could raise between £5m to £7m, other sales may realise another £1 to £2m, so a grand total of £20m for a complete re-build of the Rams side for 2008-09 season. Will that be enough for around 10 to 14 players rumoured to be needed ?

How much for Ronaldo's left leg?
Time will tell if Paul Jewell has the qualities and eye for players that the Rams desperately need at this time. You can see the ever widening gulf between teams on the fringes of the Premiership and those long established at the top of the English league. The likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal think nothing of spending £20m on just one player but it looks like our total squad may cost less than Ronaldo's left leg.

We realise that the powers that be at Derby County will never reveal just how much they have to spend, as this would prompt a massive rising in the price of any player we cared to look over during the last parts of this season and the summer months. Hopefully Paul Jewell will come good on his promise to give the fans the team they deserve...