Pitiful. That was Paul Jewell's stark assessment of his players after a disappointing season finished with another heavy home defeat - and the Rams boss has indicated a major clear-out this summer.

"It seems whatever team we put out they are not good enough to compete, not only at this level but at the next level," Jewell said after Sunday's 4-0 reversal against relegated Reading.

"We are miles away from where I expected the team to be - no passion for the shirt and no desire. Whatever makes a good team this group of players haven't got it.

"Supporters must be sick and tired of listening to the same thing from me. Today isn't a one-off it's the norm rather than the exception and it's embarrassing.

"It's a brilliant football club that deserves more on the pitch and if rewards were given out for the fans they would win everything."

But of his players, Jewell was unequivocal. "I'm sick and tired of them now," he said. "The mistakes we make! We kick off in the first minute and can't even get the ball off the floor. They make mistake after mistake and when things go against them they haven't got the balls or the gumption, the desire or the fitness level - I don't know what it is - to fight against adversity.

"We have played three Championship teams this season, losing to Blackpool, beating Sheffield Wednedsday on penalties after a replay and Preston, who murdered us, and that probably tells you where the team is and it's my job to get it right and to start the season well, where people have a bit of pride in their performance and gumption when things are going against them to roll up their sleeves and fight.

"I have known for some time that these players can't train at a tempo I expect my players to train. Training is all right to be fair and nowhere near as calamitous as the performances on a Saturday, but the demands I am asking they can't basically do.

"The large majority of these players if I have my way will never play for Derby County again.

"But who is going to take those players, that's the question you have to ask because I'm not carrying any passengers next season. We come back on the 27th of June  and there are no grey areas. I can put up with getting beat because that's what happens in football but the team will bear no resemblance to the team you have seen out there today.

"The supporters deserve better."

Asked if he included his own January transfer incoming players in his assessment, Jewell added: "Obviously we all make mistakes in the transfer market and you can't just go with them, you just have to address them and move on.

"I have learned that maybe you think you can turn it around but the rot had set in by the time I came here and maybe I should have been more ruthless in my quest with them, but I thought 'try and get the best out of them' because I knew I couldn't bring the quality in. But now you either get on the bus or you get off because if I don't get it right it's me off down the road - and I've got no problem with that.

"It's not for the lack of what we do during the week. It's almost like they are taking the micky and doing the exact opposite of what is asked of them. These players as a group are pitiful.

"It's going to be hard work to get players in and a lot of hard work has been done already and we have to sell a football club with a great fanbase, great stadium, facilities and ambition to get back into the Premier League.

"I have been in the Championship three years and got promotion twice and this is a great place."

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