Derby County clinched promotion back to the Championship with a 2-0 victory over Carlisle United.
It’s a special day for Derby as they achieved their first promotion since 2007 when they shot back up to the Premier League by beating West Brom in the play-offs.
After dropping down to League One following a 21-point deduction in 2022 to being saved by David Clowes and climbing their way back to the second tier, this day at Pride Park will live long in the memory.
Max Bird scored on his first start since the beginning of March following a calf injury and top scorer James Collins doubled their advantage deep into the second half.
Having eased any nervous tension surrounding the stadium, Bird capped off his Derby career in style by scoring the decisive goal as the 23-year-old pens an emotional farewell to the club after 14 years.
Eric Steele bids fond farewell to Max Bird after Derby County promotion
Bird was signed on a permanent deal by Bristol City in January but the Robins loaned him back for the remainder of the campaign.
Warne was desperate to keep the attacking midfielder having watched him flourish into a first-team star in Derbyshire.
Arriving as a nine-year-old boy in 2010, the Englishman reached the landmark 200 appearances for the club against Carlisle as supporters celebrated his accomplishments in a Rams shirt.
After scoring his 10th goal for the club, Bird received a standing ovation from the whole of Pride Park as former Derby goalkeeper Eric Steele penned an emotional farewell to the academy graduate, describing him as a “great lad”.
For BBC Sport, Steele wrote: “I think it could be standing ovation time for Derby midfielder Max Bird.
“A great lad who has come through the academy.”
Derby County need to replace Max Bird
Once the dust settles on their promotion celebrations, Clowes will draw up the budget that Paul Warne has to spend in the summer.
And highest on his list of priorities will be to add at least two new midfielders to the ranks, perhaps signing Ebou Adams permanently from Cardiff City and replacing Bird.
Adams has been a revelation at Pride Park and supporters are clamouring for him to return this summer.
They’ll be hoping that as Bird waves goodbye to his boyhood club, this isn’t the last time they see their tackling machine in a Derby shirt.
If Warne can convince the Bluebirds to part ways with their tackling machine and replace Bird – perhaps with Oxford United’s Cameron Brannagan – the base of their midfield will be ready for the Championship.
The post ‘A great lad’: Eric Steele bids fond farewell to 23-year-old Derby County player after automatic promotion appeared first on Derby County News.
