Eric Steele: Derby Fans Need “Reality Check” on Manager Paul Warne

Former Derby goalkeeper Eric Steele believes it is “way too early” for the Rams to consider dismissing manager Paul Warne. This assessment comes after their 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, which marked the club’s fourth consecutive league match without a victory. “I keep saying this to the fans: you’ve got to have a reality check. We were nearly out of business two years ago,” Steele stated on the Rams Daily podcast. He further elaborated, “We are going to have days like we had Sunday, we are going to have days like Bristol City [where the Rams won 3-0 in August] – there’s more of them to come.” Derby owner David Clowes rescued the Rams from administration in 2022. Since then, the club has returned to the Championship after spending two seasons in the third division. Upon their promotion last season, Clowes informed BBC Radio Derby that the club operates with “a good Championship budget.” However, he has also acknowledged being a “reluctant” owner and explored the possibility of external investment in September. Steele, however, maintains that financial expenditure during the January transfer window will be crucial for the remainder of Derby’s Championship campaign, particularly for reinforcing the struggling midfield. The 70-year-old is firmly opposed to the idea that a change in management is required for the Rams to climb higher in the league standings. He concluded by emphasizing, “There’s a lot of decisions that are going to have to made in the next month – none of which is to move Paul Warne out the job.”