Rav says Gregory won't force him out

Fabrizio Ravanelli warned today he will not be forced out of Derby by manager John Gregory.

The Rams boss has told the former Italian international there is no future for him at the relegated side and he will have to find a new club.

But Ravanelli has a year left on his contract and insists he wants to honour it.

‘‘I have a contract until June 2003 and I want to respect it. Gregory can say whatever he wants, I have a contract.

‘‘If I receive some offers I will evaluate them, but for the time being I have no alternatives and therefore my present and future is in Derby.’’

The ‘White Feather’ joined Derby, who dropped out of the Premiership this season, in July from Lazio in a deal reportedly worth up to £50,000 a week to him.

Derby initially only wanted to offer him a one-year deal but Ravanelli held out for two and that could come back to haunt them.

If the Rams opt to get rid of Ravanelli it could cost them around a quarter of a million pounds to pay off the remaining portion of his contract.

Gregory is set to axe all of the club’s foreign players, with the exception of goalkeeper Mart Poom, as he readjusts their wages budget in Division One.

Giorgi Kinkladze, Horacio Carbonari, Pierre Ducrocq, Luciano Zavagno and Francois Grenet have all been told they can leave.

The Rams play their final game of the season against Sunderland tomorrow hoping to at least end a run of seven successive defeats.

However, Ravanelli, who has not played since April 13, will not be present at the Stadium of Light.

‘‘I am going on holiday this afternoon due to my leg injury. I cannot play tomorrow, but I will return to Derby,’’ he said.