Derby's post-Wayne Rooney transformation continues as three new signings arrive

Derby County are certainly making up for lost time, with another three signings announced as they ramp up preparations for the new campaign. The East Midlands club are hurriedly trying to piece together a squad left ravaged by mass exits following relegation from the Championship.

Off-the-field worries, namely being in administration since last September, meant that no contract extensions could be awarded while the club remained in limbo.

Thankfully that issue has now been resolved after David Clowes completed his purchase of the club last week. They are no longer in administration and can once again bring players in but interim boss Liam Rosenior is up against it with just over three weeks until the season begins. Last Saturday saw five players commit for next season and another flurry was unveiled on the Rams' social media on Wednesday afternoon.

Midfielder Conor Hourihane, defender James Chester and striker David McGoldrick have all signed on with Hourihane penning a two-year deal and Chester and McGoldrick inking one-year contracts. Hourihane looks a particular coup, given the 31-year-old has spent the last six seasons operating in the top two tiers.

Speaking to the club's website after being unveiled, the former Aston Villa man said: "I'm absolutely delighted and it's great to get it done. It's been bubbling away for a little bit over the last couple of weeks but I'm pleased to get it done. I'm really excited and I feel like it's an exciting time for the club.

"I'm 31 now and I was looking for something that was going to excite me and I was going to be a big part of. Fortunately enough for myself, I have played all the way up from League Two to the Premier League so analysing it this summer as a free agent, I was thinking what do I want next and what do I want to achieve and be part of. Derby ticked all the boxes. Everyone knows the difficulties here over the last couple of years but it's a fresh start, new takeover and the excitement is here and that's why I'm here and want to be a part of it."

A penny for Wayne Rooney's thoughts after the former Manchester United captain walked out on the club just a week before Clowes' takeover. Rooney consistently stated his desire to stay if a deal could be done but privately he would have been expecting it to be Chris Kirchner's bid that ultimately was successful. Once that deal fell through Rooney, who posted a lengthy message to Derby fans in the wake of his resignation, decided to part ways.

It is now the job of his former assistant Rosenior to lead the Rams into what they hope will be a promotion battle in League One. The Rams open up at home to Oxford United on July 30 and given more new faces are set to be coming through the door before then, it is likely to be a much-changed line-up from the one which finished last season.