Confirmed, “I’m not really surprised” – Exclusive: Don Goodman reacts to Derby County transfer update
Don Goodman has praised Derby County as the club struck a fresh contract agreement with experienced centre-back, Matt Clarke.
The defender, who had previously been on the Rams’ books between 2019 and 2021 during two loan spells from Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion, was initially signed on a short-term contract in January from Middlesbrough after Football League World exclusively revealed the East Midlands club were in pole position to land his services.
His return to Pride Park came just prior to Paul Warne’s dismissal, before John Eustace returned to the club which he featured for between 2013 and 2015 on February 13th, with the clear initial remit of preserving Derby’s Championship status in their first season after gaining automatic promotion from League One.
The aforementioned objective was eventually achieved on the final day of the season as a goalless draw with Stoke City in DE24 saw the club finish one point and three places above Luton Town, who suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and into the third-tier.
It was then revealed that Derby had no fewer than 11 players out-of-contract heading into the season’s official conclusion date of June 30th, with Eustace keen to tie down those who bring plenty of experience into what has been a strong rearguard in the campaign’s final months as the Rams climbed out of the bottom three at just the right time.
