Wayne Rooney admits 'heartbreak' for Derby staff after administration announcement

Wayne Rooney has admitted that Derby County's administration is 'heartbreaking', as he fears for the number of staff members that will lose their jobs amid the cut-backs.

The Rams look set to be handed a 12-point deduction for entering administration, while they could also receive further punishment for previous breaches of spending regulations. That would leave Derby rooted to the bottom of the Championship table, as well as creating plenty of off-field uncertainty for employees.

Rooney spoke emotionally following Derby's 2-1 victory over Stoke City on Saturday, admitting that it's been a 'difficult 24 hours' since finding out the news of their administration, and spoke from the heart about the potential effects it could have on the staff at the club.

"It has been a very difficult 24 hours. I found out the news we are going into administration, then I start thinking how I am going to address the players and, more importantly, the staff because I have seen at other clubs it is not great, not a great position to be in.

"I know next week is going to be a very difficult week. I'm sure there'll be staff that will lose their jobs, which is heartbreaking because with how the world's been in the last couple of years, they've got mortgages, they've got bills to pay and it's horrendous.

"I'll do everything I can to support and try and help the staff because they sometimes get forgotten about and we've got a lot of good people who work at the club and they've been here for a long time, so we need to stick together."

Rooney also admitted that he 'wasn't really interested' in beating Stoke on Saturday, but wanted to see his players 'showing the fans they care' with a 'good attitude'.

"I spoke to the players and told them what I expected from them. I have got a very honest group of players and today was a game I wasn't really that interested in - obviously I wanted to win - but I wasn't really interested in the result, if I am being honest.

"It was more about the players showing character and having a good attitude and showing the fans they care."

In the end, Derby did pick up all three points, thanks to a stunning long-range strike from Max Bird and a Curtis Davies header. Tom Ince's second-half finish did give the game a dramatic end, but the Rams repelled everything Stoke threw at them to clinch a vital win in their inevitable push to avoid relegation.