Home » Football » EFL Championship » Derby County F.C.

One positive and one negative of Derby’s season as failed takeover has lasting impact

Derby County have had a rotten season on paper with the Rams firmly in the battle to avoid dropping out of the Championship but there could be a silver lining for boss John Eustace…

By Daniel Orme · Derby Telegraph

Published: Saturday, 14 November 2026 at 7:00 AM

Key Things to Know

Derbyshire Live highlights a failed takeover as Derby's biggest negative and squad unity as their primary positive.
A collapsed takeover by Turki Al-Sheikh disrupted recruitment, leaving the Rams stuck in a relegation battle.
Derby endured a difficult start to the Championship season, winning just one of their first 14 fixtures.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Derbyshire Live assesses Derby County's difficult start to the Championship campaign, identifying lingering damage from a failed takeover by Saudi Arabia official Turki Al-Sheikh as a key negative. The Rams won only one of their opening 14 league matches, leaving them battling relegation after injuries disrupted plans and recruitment reset following the aborted deal.

Conversely, the report highlights squad unity as Derby's biggest positive during the international break. Manager John Eustace maintains strong support from his dressing room, reinforced by public backing from players Sammie Szmodics and Carlton Morris alongside a morale-boosting comeback victory against Bolton.

Read the full article on Derby Telegraph