Rooney: ‘it’s been difficult not knowing what my squad will be’

English Football League (EFL) banned

from transfer activity after being found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules last month, however, the EFL has softened its stance as there are only nine senior players, including two goalkeepers, at Pride Park.

Therefore the Rams are now allowed to bring up to five players on free transfers or on loan and head coach

Wayne Rooney

has urged the club to get moving in the transfer market.

He has been frustrated as he had to sign eight players, including his former Manchester United teammate Ravel Morrison, on free transfers for their 2-1 friendly loss against Salford City on Saturday.

When he was asked whether he is going to stay at Derby for the new

season, he told

:

"It's other people which I can't control who need to make bigger decisions than I do.

"All I can do is try to bring some dignity and pride back to this club. It is clear that has gone in the last few years and it is my job to bring that back. I need other people to do their job.

"It's not ideal, it has been very difficult not knowing what my squad will be in two weeks' time when the league starts. However we can, we need to get that sorted.

"If I am being honest, it would be easy for a manager in my situation to walk away. It's a challenge for me, I'm a fighter. I am grateful to Derby for giving me this opportunity and I will do everything I can to get the club through this.

"If we can't bring players in over the next two weeks I do not know how we field a team to start the season.

"I haven't got one center-back signed to the club, there are two very young players in the U23s and U18s. It would be impossible for me to field a team."

The shortage of registered senior players at Pride Park is because ten of them had to leave the club as four players reached the end of their contracts and the rest had to return to their parent clubs after their loan spells.

The Rams have to also decide which of the free agents to sign up for the next season as Morison along with Tom Carroll, Phil Jagielka, Sone Aluko, Andre Wisdom, Ryan Allsop, Richard Stearman, and Sam Baldock have already been on trials with the club.

Rooney is likely going to struggle again to keep Derby in the Championship like the way he did last season. He is now trying to push his squad back up to 23 players in time for their opening game against Huddersfield Town on August 7.

Follow

for the