Colin Kazim-Richards speaks out amid uncertain Derby County future | OneFootball

Derby County forward Colin Kazim-Richards believes Derby County will bounce back regardless of whether he’s at the club next season or not, taking to Twitter to express his thoughts following confirmation of the Rams’ relegation to the third tier.

The 35-year-old looked set to play a big part for the East Midlands outfit this term after coming off the bench several times to make a meaningful impact, scoring in a three-game spell against West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Reading between late December and the start of January to win an extra seven points for his team.

Unfortunately, injuries have limited his involvement this term, a real source of frustration with the forward being missed in the Rams’ quest to survive.

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His absence and departures of senior first-team players halted Derby in their tracks, previously looking favourites to drag themselves away from the relegation zone just a couple of months ago but failing to do enough to catch up with Reading who currently sit in 21st and have been for some time.

And with Queens Park Rangers’ late winner against them and the Royals’ draw against Swansea City yesterday, they are now unable to make up the deficit with ten points currently separating Wayne Rooney and Paul Ince’s men with just three league games remaining.

Despite this setback, Kazim-Richards made one promise to Derby supporters, though he couldn’t provide a clear answer on whether he would be at Pride Park next year or not with his contract coming to an end this summer.

He posted: “No matter what happens with me directly regarding Derby County, all I can say is that this club will be back! It’s impossible after what it’s been through to keep it down!”

The Verdict:

It’s perhaps wise not to read too much into this – but it doesn’t look as though Kazim-Richards knows where his future lies at this stage and that will be a concern for those supporters that want to see him back next year.

However, Rooney may want to pursue younger alternatives to the former Turkey international in a bid to potentially sell them on for more in the future, reinvest some of that money and be able to abide by the EFL’s financial rules at the same time to escape further points deductions.

On the other hand, experienced heads like Kazim-Richards and/or Curtis Davies will be needed in the dressing room if they want to have any real chance of bouncing back to the second tier at the first time of asking.

This is where he could come in handy, though Davies has been the fitter one of the duo this term and that may push the centre-back ahead of the forward in the line for a new deal, so it would be no surprise to see the latter leave in the summer.

If he does, the striker can leave with his head held high because although he has been ruled out for a sizeable chunk of the season with injury troubles, he has made a real impact and created fond memories during what has been a torrid time for the club.