Paul Jewell cannot be blamed for the sorry demise of Derby County in the Premier League this season, but he certainly hasn't helped matters at Pride Park. The Rams' showing in the top flight this season has been dreadful and they look odds on to break a new record low points tally.

A fact which has obviously has not escaped the beleguered former Bradford City chief.

Early on in his tenure he said: "They come out on a Saturday on match day and they fall apart at the first sign of adversity."

It was a statement in reference to their 4-1 mauling by Championship side Preston in the FA Cup and months later after a 2-0 reverse at his former club Wigan, Jewell said: "Some players are not worthy of being here and the sooner we can get them out the better."

Probably a brutally honest assessment of his Rams squad, but not one he should have repeated in the media.

Then it's no surprise that Derby have picked up just one win in the league all season - a 1-0 win over Newcastle and that was back in September under previous boss Billy Davies.

Jewell's players have had all the confidence, and the little belief they had before his arrive in November 2007, sucked out of them in a mentally-draining season.

I'm not for one minute suggesting the squad was good enough to stay in the top flight, but with Kenny Miller, Robbie Savage, Giles Barnes and Danny Mills in their ranks they should have been able to muster a worthwhile effort instead of being doomed by the end of March.

Jewell knows he needs to clear the decks for an assault on next season's Championship title, I just hope the players he brings in can handle being torn to shreds in the press on a Sunday.