Wayne Rooney’s Derby are facing relegation from the second-tier Championship after being deducted a further nine points for breaches of English Football League accounting rules.It takes the total points docked this season to 21, after the club were previously deducted 12 points for entering administration.##NAJAVA_MECA_5982752##A further three-point deduction, which is suspended, will take effect if the club does not comply with the terms of a budget agreement for the rest of the 2021/22 season.Derby are marooned at the bottom of the Championship table on minus three points, 18 points from safety, with relegation to League One — the third tier of English football — looking inevitable.English Football League chief executive Trevor Birch said that the decision was fair.”The Football League’s objective throughout this ongoing process has been to ensure that the principles of the regulations were upheld on behalf of all clubs. Given the complex circumstances of the case and the various outstanding regulatory issues between the EFL and Derby County, the league is satisfied at the agreed outcome and the sensible approach taken by both parties in negotiating this outcome.”It takes Derby’s total deductions to 21 points 😱Wayne Rooney’s Rams are now on minus-three points and marooned at the bottom of the table 😓#OptusSport pic.twitter.com/pZdWVuB40L— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) November 16, 2021 The Rams boss Rooney has always stated his commitment to the club even though off-field problems continued to pile up. At the start of the troubled season, he assured the supporters that he’s fully dedicated to the club.”I’m a fighter. I grew up on a council estate in Liverpool – I don’t walk away from challenges easily and I’m grateful to Derby for giving me my first job in management. I want to repay them for that. I want to stick by these players. They need my guidance and my help to help them get through.”After another points deduction, it looks like not even Rooney’s optimism could prevent Derby County from dropping down to the EFL League One.
