Derby owner Mel Morris insists he was never going to stand in Frank Lampard’s way to rejoin Chelsea

DERBY owner Mel Morris says he was never going to stand in the way of Frank Lampard making his dream move to become Chelsea’s new manager.

The Rams chief handed Lamps his first break in management last summer and it almost paid off spectacularly when the Chelsea legend came within 90 minutes of leading Derby back to the Premier League.

Rex Features

However, Morris admits it was a bitter-sweet season for him because it hastened the inevitable knock on the door from Roman Abramovich’s Blues.

“When Frank met me for the first time, we talked about this opportunity and even then we knew at some stage this was going to happen – we just didn’t know when,” Morris told talkSPORT radio.

“So we talked about that and we both probably thought it would be some way off.

“If Frank had done a poor job a Derby, this wouldn’t be happening. That makes it a double-whammy. We’re going to have a tough time ahead if Frank goes, no question.

“You don’t have to give it (permission).

“But the situation is this: when we interviewed Frank originally, we talked about this very eventuality. At some stage, Frank is probably going to want to manage at Chelsea.

“If you become obstructive in these situations it’s not going to bode well for the future.

“So from that perspective, there was always a risk. But you couldn’t have predicted what would happen with them having a manager moving on, with their transfer ban. There’s a whole raft of different things that bring this opportunity.”

Morris knows it would take a major cock-up now for Chelsea to fail to get ‘their’ man but, for the moment, he is still holding out hope Lampard could still be in charge when Derby kick off the new season.

“Let’s face it, right now it’s still not a done deal.

“Let’s be blunt, as far as I’m concerned I’m hoping this guy is going to manage us next season. I’m not giving up hope on that at the moment.

“But you’d have to say at some point it will happen – whether it’s now or some point in the future. For Frank Lampard it’s a win-win. He can’t lose in this situation. It’s one of the top jobs.”