Nottingham Forest striker Lyle Taylor has given a surprisingly positive verdict on the plight of Derby County, insisting he would like to see the Rams in the Championship next season.
Derby have already been hit with a 12-point deduction for entertaining administration and a further penalty could follow amid the club's ongoing dispute with the EFL.
The Pride Park side appear destined for League One football next season, with the main focus on making sure the club survives its financial crisis.
Taylor has given his thoughts on the situation in the BBC’s Football Daily podcast and says Rams boss Wayne Rooney is in a no-lose situation.
“As long as the club survives, whether it’s League One or the Championship, that’s the most important thing because we don’t want lose anymore football clubs in this country,” said Taylor.
“He [Rooney] can do no wrong. If he keeps them up, he’s a god. If they go down, it’s nothing to do with him, it wasn’t his fault because he didn’t do anything that brought about that situation.
“So walking away wouldn’t do Wayne Rooney any good. He might as well do everything he can because it’s only going to raise his profile.”
Taylor says he wants to see an East Midlands derby in the Championship next season too.
“Can you imagine the scenes if there is an East Midlands derby at Pride Park or the City Ground next year. Oh my god, it would be absolutely mental,” he said.
“The Derby fans would be going absolutely bonkers, the Forest fans would be going absolutely bonkers.
“For the sake of the sake of that rivalry, I hope Derby stay up because I think that would be an amazing story.
“Under new ownership, you never know where a club like that could go. They could flourish.
“Someone like Wayne Rooney would become a Derby legend in the space of eight months.”
