Ravanelli denies Derby rumours

Press conference
The Italian striker called a press conference at which he claimed his only wish was "to play and score the goals to keep the club in the Premiership''. Derby have been without a manager since the dismissal of Colin Todd of Monday after just 98 days in the job. The 33-year-old Ravanelli's name was linked almost immediately with the vacant role, presently in the hands of reserve-team manager Billy McEwan, but he insisted: "I want my concentration to be on the playing side."

'I want only to play'
Ravanelli said: "I want only to play. I think that is now possible because I am fit. In my head and my heart I want only to play football. I want to score goals on the pitch for Derby. I do not think it is possible to be player-manager. I want to keep Derby up."

Joined from Lazio
When asked about Todd's sacking, the former Italian international, who joined Derby from S.S. Lazio on a free transfer last summer, said: "It is something that happens in football. It has nothing to do with the players. It is something the club decided. I had great respect for Colin as a man."

'People will speculate'
Chief executive Keith Loring said Ravanelli "has never been offered the manager's job". He added: "It would be stupid for Fabrizio's name not to be mentioned in connection with a new manager. He is a very emotional person and does not have the emotion to do two jobs. If you make a decision to change a manager people will speculate. It can sometimes lead to misunderstandings."

Powell opposed
Derby captain Darryl Powell said on Tuesday it would be "crazy" to appoint Ravanelli, who was in Juventus FC's UEFA Champions League-winning side of 1995. "It would be crazy for him to get it because he hasn't got any coaching experience whatsoever," he said. "Just because he's played the game at the highest level doesn't mean he's cut out for the post."