Derby County FC

Derby County may not be a name synonomous with the Premier League however they enjoyed a stint in the top-flight between 1996/97 and 2001/02 when they were eventually relegated after losing seven of the final eight matches.

Billy Davies appointment as manager from Preston North End during the summer of 2006 marked an remarkable turnaround in the clubs fortunes having finished 20th in the Championship in the 2005/06 season. Derby County's supporters could be forgiven they were in dream land as in May 2007 they defeated West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in the Play-Off final to win promotion.

The estimated £60m windfall that The Rams will eventually receive from promotion will go a long way to secure a long future in the Premiership, but Davies faces an extremely tough task if his young squad are to avoid the drop.

The club have announced plans to expand their current home, the Pride Park Stadium, to a capacity of 44,000 for the start of the 2008/09 season and the expansion will run alongside the development of "Pride Plaza", adding a string of hotels and restaurants to the area.