Paul Warne has now revealed what messages rival managers sent after Derby County sealed promotion to the Championship.
After watching Leeds United lose at Wembley against Southampton in the play-off final, Derby now know the full Championship lineup for the 2024/25 campaign.
For Paul Warne and his staff, preparations are firmly underway for a league the Rams boss describes as the toughest he’s seen in years.
Derby’s squad is currently significantly weaker than the one that sealed promotion on the final day against Carlisle United.
Following the departures of six first-team players, including captain Conor Hourihane, Golden Glove Award winner Joe Wildsmith and veteran forward Dwight Gayle, Warne is predominantly targeting improvements in goal, central midfield and striker.
Owner David Clowes will arm the Derby manager with the funds to bolster his squad as he prepares to come up against a division packed with quality teams.
One side coming down from the Premier League is Luton Town, with Warne now sharing what Hatters boss Rob Edwards, among others, texted him after the promotion was sealed.
Paul Warne shares what messages rival managers sent after promotion
Warne has shed light on the relationship he has with opposition managers off the pitch.
Whilst on the field the rivalry in the dugouts is intense, the Derby boss has revealed that plenty of managers got in touch to congratulate him, including Luton’s Rob Edwards.
Speaking to Derbyshire Live, Warne said: “I got a message from Fergie and I had one from Darrell Clarke who was at Cheltenham.
“There were a lot of messages from clubs in the Champ mainly. A couple were funny saying ‘good luck it’s got good again by the way’. I responded ‘oh I know’.
“I had a few jokey ones like that. The Luton manager texted me as well as the Portsmouth manager. I text him as soon as they went up. You become friendly with some managers because they’ve been around and you face them a lot.”
Derby County face an uphill battle in the Championship
Although it was necessary to let go of several first-team players to make way for improvements, it has left Derby’s squad depleted and thin on the ground.
Warne now just has Josh Vickers as his senior goalkeeper, three central midfielders in Liam Thompson, Tyrese Fornah and Darren Robinson while only James Collins and Conor Washington as his two strikers.
The major concern for Warne to resolve is in attack, with the Rams ending the 2023/24 campaign as the joint-lowest scorers of all teams that finished in the top six.
Scoring goals is only going to be increasingly harder in the second tier and Derby have recognised this by targeting a new striker on their wishlist.
By contrast, the Rams don’t need many improvements in defence having conceded the fewest goals in League One and kept the most clean sheets.
They need to build their squad around the defensive pairing of Eiran Cashin and Curtis Nelson while perhaps adding an extra body at the back.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
Success in the transfer market will ultimately define whether they can stay in the Championship as it promises to be a busy summer.
The post Paul Warne shares 'funny' messages he's received from Championship managers after Derby County promotion appeared first on Derby County News.