Wayne Rooney is “excited” by the challenge of leading Derby back to the Championship but insists both his and the club’s future rests on the completion of a takeover.

The Rams, deducted 21 points this season after going into administration, were relegated to League One with three games remaining after losing 1-0 to QPR.

Defeat left them 10 points behind Reading, who came from 4-1 down to snatch a last-gasp draw with Swansea. If you love betting live don’t forget to try out your luck with these team!

Rooney said: “I am disappointed, sad, angry, upset, but ultimately proud of the players, staff and fans, who have been excellent.

“I said to the players after the game, ‘When you walk out of that dressing room, walk out with your head high. Don’t let your heads drop’.

On the game, Warburton admitted: “We won ugly. They were the better team in the second half.

“They were fresh from a good win against Fulham, full of adrenaline and they had to win to stay up. We knew what we faced.

“In the first half we had some chances but didn’t take them and then in the second half we were second best in terms of having the ball.

“But they were always going to commit bodies forward and take risks, so we could hurt them on the counter – and that was the case.”