Clough rules out sweeping changes

Manager Nigel Clough insists there is no need for wholesale changes at Derby this summer.

Clough made eight permanent signings last summer as his overhaul of the Rams squad continued. After a top-half finish and recording the club's third highest points tally in the last 16 seasons during the 2011/12 campaign, Clough has stated his desire to maintain a settled squad at Pride Park. "There were a few players who did not contribute as much as we would have liked last season so we can afford to lose a few of the fringe players this summer, like Chris Maguire who has joined Sheffield Wednesday," Clough told the club's official website. "Twelve months ago we were looking at six or seven new players coming in and this year we are looking nowhere near that figure, which is good. It should be three or four players every season, where a few will drop off at the end and then we try and improve things from there. "It (the squad) puts us in a position of strength because we know essentially we have got a very good squad here now. As long as we don't lose too many of them and we improve and strengthen, then we will be ready for next season."