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Savage: staying put

We've been relegated but I want to stay there and get Derby promoted. It's a new challenge, but it's been 11 consecutive years in the Premier League for me. It's been a good run, something I wouldn't have thought I'd do when I started my career, but I am looking forward to the Championship.

Robbie Savage
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Robbie Savage has given Derby County a welcome boost by insisting he is staying at the club.

The midfielder told Goals on Sunday that even though the Championship beckons for the first time in his career, he is going nowhere.

"I obviously want to play in the Premier League, but I am realist," he said. "We've been relegated but I want to stay there and get Derby promoted.

"It's a new challenge, but it's been 11 consecutive years in the Premier League for me. It's been a good run, something I wouldn't have thought I'd do when I started my career, but I am looking forward to the Championship.

"That league is hard for everybody. Unfortunately - or fortunately - I've never played in it, but I am going to find out next year!

"It's two games a week and there's a lot of good teams in that league but we'll be one of the favourites to come back up."

Returning to the top flight is already Savage's priority.

While Derby manager Paul Jewell is still seeking his first win since taking over 24 games ago and desperately trying to avoid the all-time Premier League low of 15, eyes are already turning to next season.

"Nobody's giving up because he wants to win a game and get to that 15 points, but it is so difficult," Savage said.

"Next season we need a good start and he (Jewell) is definitely the man to get them promoted. He's got good people with him and I hope he does well because he's a good guy.

"He's got money to spend hopefully, from the American investment and I am sure he'll spend it wisely."

Savage was one of a number of players brought in during the transfer window after Jewell had replaced Billy Davies.

Davies has already told Goals on Sunday that the squad was not equipped to survive among the big boys, a view that is echoed by one of the men brought in to try and stave off relegation.

Savage is happy to be playing week in, week out, but even as a renowned scrapper, he admits life at Pride Park has been the harshest of tests.

"I'll be honest with you, it's a lot harder than I thought," he said. "I thought it would be hard, but not in my wildest dreams did I think it would be as hard as it has been.

"The first seven or eight games I wasn't playing well and people were getting on my back - and rightly so - but in the last five games I've done OK myself and the team has played better, although we're not getting the results.

"It's hard for the gaffer as well. After the Wigan game he was very upset; not because it was Wigan but because of the way we played.

"But I think he's a realist and as a group, if I'm being honest, we're just not good enough to be in the Premier League. He realises that and is very constructive after games and I think it's now just a case of being ready for next season.

"It's a fantastic football club. Honestly, the training facilities, the ground and the fans are unbelievable. They get 33,000 every week and I think they've sold 20,000 season tickets already for next season."