Tom Glick has spoken to the media today and promised that the Rams are hot on the trail of new signings as well as working hard to secure Kris Commons on a new deal.

It is sad that it takes two embarrassing results for the club to tell it’s fans what it needed to hear a couple of weeks ago. Are our board so out of touch with the fans that this information could only be rolled out after the club was being shaken by the fury levelled at it after the loss at Crawley?

Many fans have decided that Clough should go but a majority would still love to see him succeed. That same majority would unanimously vote that he will only ever do so if he can purchase some quality players and form a squad without such stringent restrictions on spending.

Tom Glick definitely did not say that the bank vault has now been opened but his comments in the DET show that he is becoming aware that fans patience is running out:

"We are looking at three positions right now – centre forward, central defence and also in midfield. We have a bid out for one, we have advanced far down the road on a second of those positions, and we remain optimistic on both of those. On the third, we continue to work all of our options.” 

"We know we need to strengthen a bit but again I would also add that we feel we have the nucleus of a very good squad here which hasn't changed substantially from six weeks ago.” 

"We don't want to forget that. We do expect to make some additions. We could see a permanent addition, we are certainly pursuing quality loans, and we think that is the best way to get value.” 

"There are three weeks left of the window and we are hard at work. We are working very closely together – the manager, the coaching staff and myself on finding the right additions." 

"There are too many examples where just throwing money at it is not a successful strategy, we are focused on performance and getting back in the play-off race. We think we are capable of that but we are also focused on doing this over the long haul.”

"What we are not intending to do is splash out massive sums of money just to chase a promotion this summer. If we can get back in the mix, we will, but we are going to do it with some responsibility.”

"If we can find the right player, then yes we will bring in a permanent signing and paying money for that permanent signing continues to be an option. But we are more than happy to get in quality loans.”

"We are pursuing what we think will be some quality additions who happen to be half-season loans that we think will make a measurable impact, including getting us back in the play-off race. If we win at Watford on Saturday we are right back in it."

Really (without trying to sound too jaded....ok, maybe a little) it is a re-heated, re-hash of what has been said before.

We will spend - but not much.

We may buy a player - if they don’t cost much.

We will loan some players – because they don’t cost much.

We will continue to test the fans patience….. until they march on Pride Park.

Oops..sorry.... I added that last one in myself.

Commons Contract

Tom Glick has also spoken about the clubs continuing attempts to sign Kris Commons on a new contract and to also debunk the rumours that they are shopping him around in January:

"The discussions we have had with Kris over the last few weeks have been positive and I think we have progressed. We have taken some meaningful steps," said chief executive Tom Glick.”

"I don't want to get into specifics about where we are, we will just say this is a substantial week for us. We have meetings with Kris and his representatives, and we remain optimistic.”

"We recognise what a great season he has had and that he is a key player for us, and a popular player. For all of those reasons we are looking for him to continue at Derby. That is what I am focused on and what the manager is focused on, and we hope we are successful."

In relation to the talk of selling Commons and making a pound while they can:

"We are focused right now on signing an extended contract with Kris. That is priority one and we haven't moved to plan B yet.”

"We have a very productive dialogue going with Kris and we have an important meeting this week. We are hopeful we can get something done."

Bringing in the right players to re-ignite the Rams season is important but it would be a serious loss if Commons was not to stay with Derby.

Hopefully after the last couple of weeks the board now realise that selling a fan favourite and the one player who can be relied on to get goals, is no way to soothe the already savage fans.

This weekend’s game is a massive one for the club on the field. The contract talks off it are just as important, if not more so.

We can only hope that both end with a positive outcome.

Photo: Action Images

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