[31] Other sources suggested that both Derby and Forest has made offers of £700,000 plus an unnamed player (rumoured to be Liam Dickinson, who had had a loan spell at Blackpool the previous campaign).

[34][35][36][37] A loan was agreed, in principle, for Arsenal's Mark Randall,[38] though the club declined to sign the player after he failed to impress on trial,[39] and initial contract talks were held with Patrick Kisnorbo,[35] before he eventually joined Leeds United.

[40] There were also trials given to ex-Stoke City youngster Mark Grocott,[41] Berwick Rangers forward Fraser McLaren and Juventus midfielder David Junior Toukam.

[41][42] There were also links with Crewe Alexandra's John Brayford,[43] Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam,[44] Blackburn goalkeeper Frank Fielding and Charlton Athletic's Nicky Bailey.

Gary Teale's 87th-minute goal sealed a 2–1 win and ensured that the club won its opening game of the season for the first time since 2002 and Robbie Savage's performance saw him named in the Championship Team of the week.

[61] A blow was dealt when Chris Porter was ruled out until Christmas after having surgery on his hip,[62] though his strike partner Rob Hulse committed his future to the club in the face of speculation of an imminent £5m bid from Middlesbrough.

[75] The run coincided with a number of injuries to key first team personnel including Kris Commons, Stephen Pearson, Paul Green and Steve Davies.

[80] October saw Derby's injury crisis hit new heights with the news that loanee James Vaughan would return to his parent club, Everton, to assess a dead leg he had suffered in his debut against Crystal Palace.

The results saw Derby drop to 19th in the table and saw Clough admit for the first time concern over the team's plight, going as far as to state "We are still clinging on to the hope when everybody is fit we think we can get a side out to compete."

He also praised the club's supporters, despite the pelting of the pitch with free T-shirts as the match drew to a close, saying "I didn't think their reaction was too bad after they had just seen us concede four goals at home.

"[96] The month started with the club revealing that Mark O'Brien had successfully undergone heart surgery to correct a valve problem, and that he would be able to resume his career following a three- to four-month recovery period.

[97] It was also revealed that Jay McEveley's heart has stopped for two minutes during surgery on the cheekbone he had fractured during the defeat at Middlesbrough, though he was revived and was available, whilst wearing a protective mask for the match against Coventry City,[98] joining the returning Rob Hulse, Dean Leacock[99] and Paul Green.

The month ended with a 2–1 victory over Reading, with Derby again coming from a goal down to win, with Rob Hulse scoring the winner to take his tally for the season to 6.

Derby City Council proposed the raising of £26m through an extra levy of local businesses to help fund the expansion of Pride Park to 45,000 from its current 33,500 capacity for the tournament, which would be reduced to 35,000 to 38,000 after its completion.

Campbell's Leicester teammate Paul Dickov had given Derby a first half lead before two controversial West Brom goals in the last 10 minutes had looked to turn the game on its head.

[123] With January approaching, reports suggested Wolves had an eye on Kris Commons for a £1.5m fee[124] and Luke Varney intimated his desire to return to Sheffield Wednesday, either temporarily or permanently, following the completion of his second loan spell with the club.

The fixture, as it had been in August, proved controversial as a mass melee again broke out towards the end of the game as Chris Gunter pushed Jay McEveley whilst the latter was taking a throw-in.

Stephen Bywater, Shaun Barker and match winner Rob Hulse all received the accolade along with on-loan striker Luke Varney after his two goals helped Sheffield Wednesday beat Plymouth 2–1.

[145] Luke Varney, Ross Atkins and Greg Mills all left the club on loan joining Sheffield Wednesday, Burton Albion and Macclesfield Town respectively.

[156] Mark Dudley, Ross Atkins and Alex Forde all made loan moves to non-league Hinckley United, Kidderminister Harriers and Solihull Moors respectively.

stated "The Commission was deeply concerned that this was the third occasion in a period of eight months (following the two fracas with Nottingham Forest) that Derby County FC have been charged with a similar offence.

[168] However, after Smith suffered a broken cheekbone in Portsmouth's 5–0 defeat at home to Chelsea on 24 March, Clough moved to bring in Wigan Athletic's young polish forward Tomasz Cywka on loan until the end of the season.

[175] Martin made his debut in a 1–2 defeat at Doncaster Rovers and kept his place for a 2–2 draw with Middlesbrough which put Derby firmly in the relegation dogfight after just one win in six games.

"[178] He also promised an additional £5m would be made available to Clough to sign players in the summer[178] and expressed his intention to reinitiate the Pride Park Plaza redevelopment which would "provide superb new amenities for the city and its residents, offer considerable benefits to Rams fans and generate significant revenues for the club.

"[179] April opened with the best possible start as Shaun Barker's 1st half goal in a 1–0 win away to Coventry City took Derby past the 50 points mark, usually enough to secure survival, though a 3–1 defeat at home to Ipswich Town on Easter Monday meant the club was not yet safe.

This meant that it was not possible for both Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday to overtake The Rams as they played each other at Hillsborough on the final day of the season and ensured safety and Derby's place in the 2010–11 Football League Championship.

[186] Leading scorer Rob Hulse also had an operation on his adductor tendon problem[187] leaving Derby with 14 senior players ruled out for the final game of the season against Cardiff City.

[193] They also confirmed their ongoing interest in Crewe Alexandra defender John Brayford and a desire to continue Michael Tonge's loan from Stoke City into the new campaign.

[194] Liverpool youngster Adam Pepper was also taken on trial, scoring in the reserves 3–2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion,[195] and Clough highlighted Scunthorpe United forward Gary Hooper as a "player we admire" and confirmed the loan of Tomasz Cywka from Wigan Athletic was with one eye on next season.

[238] ^ VI Mendy returned to Derby on 30 October, after Grimsby cancelled his loan early[239] ^ VII Atkins as recalled on 20 April after a rib injury saw Stephen Bywater ruled out for the rest of the season.