RAMS WARN AGAINST BARNES RAID

Derby have warned they will not be a "soft touch" for other Premier League clubs eyeing up their talented young players.

Giles Barnes has repeatedly been linked with Tottenham and West Ham but Rams chairman Peter Gadsby insisted Derby are not a selling club.

The exciting young midfielder is currently out with a foot injury but that has not stopped speculation that another top-flight club could move for the 19-year-old before the transfer window closes.

Derby have already dismissed one bid from West Ham and Gadsby made it clear they would be watching the situation closely.

"The situation with Giles Barnes is that he is a very important part of this club," Gadsby said.

"My advice to him would be to stay here and get his head down and take advantage of playing under a manager in Billy Davies who has an excellent track record of bringing on young players.

"We had an approach that we didn't want and the offer was unacceptable. We will be monitoring the Giles Barnes situation closely.

"This club has a history of being pillaged but interested clubs would be mistaken to think that Derby County is a soft touch. We are not a club that needs to sell, we are interested in progressing."

Barnes is out of the equation for Wednesday night's game at Manchester City but Davies is planning to make changes despite an impressive opening-day performance against Portsmouth.

"I intend to rotate the squad because we need freshness," Davies said.

"We have got to show the confidence and the belief that we did on Saturday.

"We must be prepared to compete at this level and not be fazed by any of the teams we come up against."

The Sven-Goran Eriksson era started in style with a 2-0 win at West Ham and Davies added: "His track record is second to none and you have to admire what he has achieved in the game.

"I am sure that he will have been very thorough in his assessment of Derby County as we have been in our assessment of his team."

Davies served a one-match touchline ban on Saturday but admitted he could stay in the stands for at least part of the match with City.

The Scot is famous for his hyperactive manner around the dug-out but he said: "I might stay in the stand, I am thinking about it.

"You can sit back and look at the game properly and see what's going on. I think that this season I would like to consider staying up there sometimes now that I have people I can trust."

Davies today signed the extension to his contract which was agreed several weeks ago.

He now has an improved three-year deal but he said: "The length of contract means nothing really.

"We all know how football works, it's a results business and we all know the territory. I am delighted to be a Premier League manager but as long as I am involved in football I will be very happy."

Derby's latest recruit, American midfielder Benny Feilhaber, is ineligible for tomorrow's game because his international clearance has not yet come through.

Taken from =football365=