Porter Collects Bags - Which Rams Will Checkout Next?
Thursday, 12th May 2011 12:32 by Daniel J Sewart

Well its official – Chris Porter’s Derby County career is over. After recovering from a long term injury he burst back onto the scene with goals but they dried up fast and with them any chance of earning a contract renewal.

At 27 years of age Porter there is no doubt that the striker still has something to offer but Nigel Clough has decided he will not be offering it to the Rams.

When Chris single handedly won the game in January against Preston, scoring both goals in the 2-1 win, you thought perhaps he could be the man to fill the shoes of Rob Hulse. Instead he became another player who never fulfilled his potential in a Derby shirt.

His final action in a Rams shirt was to deliver the reserve title to DCFC with a classy hat trick. He leaves Pride Park having scored 9 goals in 50 appearances (25 as a substitute) in just over two years.

Along with Porter - 2 other players were released as youngsters Greg Mills and Arnaud Mendy will not be offered a new contract.

So far it is only those 3 players who have left along with loan signings returning to parents clubs but you can be sure there will be more moved on before too long.

Although contracted you would think Lee Croft, Dean Leacock, James Vaughan, Stephen Bywater and David Martin could all be shopped around for permanent moves or perhaps let leave on a free if a settlement can be negotiated.

Brad Jones, Daniel Ayala and Alberto Bueno are due to return to their clubs which does not necessarily end their Rams career. Clough has stated before he would like Ayala on a season long loan while no one has ruled out a return for Bueno. Jones is unlikely to be seen at Derby again unless the team require expert training in flapping their arms (sorry Brad but I mean…. what happened?).

There was also good news for some of the Rams up and coming talent as Academy products Callum Ball, Alex Witham, Aaron Cole and Chris Jones will be offered first-year professional contracts.

The full list of this season’s player’s current status with the club was released on the clubs official site:

Out of contract and not being offered new deals:

Chris Porter, Greg Mills, Arnaud Mendy, Robbie Savage (retiring).

Out of contract and to be offered new deals:

Saul Deeney, Ross Atkins.

Players under contract beyond summer of 2011:

Stephen Bywater, Frank Fielding, John Brayford, Gareth Roberts, Paul Green, Shaun Barker, Dean Leacock, Steven Davies, Jamie Ward, Stephen Pearson, Russell Anderson, David Martin, James Bailey, Jake Buxton, Tomasz Cywka, Ben Pringle, Miles Addison, Ben Davies, Conor Doyle, Jeff Hendrick, James Severn, Ryan Connolly, Lee Croft, Luke Varney, Mark O'Brien.

Returning to parent clubs after loan deals:

Brad Jones, Daniel Ayala, Alberto Bueno

RamZone wish all the best to Chris Porter and the other departing Rams for their future footballing endeavours, especially Greg Mills who is involved in the Blue Square Premier League playoffs with AFC Telford United this Sunday.

Soon we will find out who Clough plans to make part of his future plans. With talk of a number of signings still to come I am sure this is not the last time we will be saying ‘goodbye’ to a member of the Rams squad.