Derby are refusing to hit the panic button and chief executive Tom Glick has stressed that Nigel Clough's position as boss of the Championship club is safe. With rumours in overdrive following a run of poor results including a heavy league defeat to rivals Nottingham Forest and a shock FA Cup exit at non-league Crawley, the Rams want to stress that Clough is there for the long haul.

Glick told the Derby Telegraph: "We cannot control what other people do or how they speculate on social networks, blogs and chatrooms. We have been consistent all along - we have the right manager at this football club and we are moving forward.

"We know how much Nigel Clough does for this club, how in touch he is with the supporters, the city and the community.

"We talk about the romance of the FA Cup and giantkillings but being on the receiving end is something everybody at the club took very hard. It was a terrible night for the club. I know the supporters are upset, disappointed and embarrassed and everybody here at Pride Park and at Moor Farm is feeling the same."