Frank Lampard to Chelsea ‘is NOT a done deal’, insists Derby chief Mel Morris despite giving him permission to speak to former side ahead of emotional return as manager
- Frank Lampard could take the manager’s job at Chelsea in the coming days
- Derby owner Mel Morris, however, hopes Lampard is still there next season
- Morris insists that whoever is in charge will continue to employ same philosophy
- ‘We are going to have a tough time if Frank goes,’ admitted Morris
Derby owner Mel Morris has insisted Frank Lampard’s move to Chelsea is not a done deal.
The Rams announced on Tuesday that they had given their manager permission to speak to his former side ahead of a possible emotional return to Stamford Bridge for the former midfielder.
Morris would likely bag a £4million compensation package from Chelsea for letting Lampard leave.
Derby owner Mel Morris has insisted Frank Lampard’s move to Chelsea is not a done deal
Morris (left) still maintains some hope that Lampard will be Derby manager next season
But, speaking on TalkSPORT on Wednesday morning, Morris said: ‘When Frank met me, from the first time we talked about this opportunity, even then we knew at some stage this would happen.
‘We just didn’t know when and we thought it would be some way off.
‘Right now it’s still not a done deal as far as I am concerned. I am hoping this guy will manage us next season. At some point it will happen, whether now or in the future.
‘We are going to have a tough time if Frank goes. If Frank had done a poor job this wouldn’t be happening.’
Morris hailed Lampard for his achievements at the club in such a short space of time
Morris also revealed that Derby had already received 12 applications for the managerial position, and it included some ‘good names’.
But whoever takes up the post should Lampard leave, Morris is adamant that the club’s philosophy won’t change and he will seek a like-for-like replacement.
He added: ‘We have seen this last season how things have come together, the pathway between the academy and the first team, the style of football.
‘Forget the background of the manager, the person we bring in if Frank moves on has to allow us to maintain the style of play and bring academy players into the first team, while making sure they are ready.’
Morris said whoever takes the reins must maintain a link between academy and first team
