Derby County have announced they have parted company with manager Paul Clement following a run of seven league matches without a win. 

Derby are fifth in the Championship but the club's owner, Mel Morris, said he feels they have "not made enough progress" under Clement this season. 

Clement, who took charge last June, will be replaced by Academy Director and ex-player Darren Wassall

The decision comes after a string of poor results, including heavy defeats to Burnley and Birmingham. The Rams are yet to win a league game in 2016, drawing four and losing on three occasions. 

The winless streak has seen Derby drop from the automatic promotion places to fifth, now five points behind second-place Middlesbrough.

Paul Clement took over Derby in the summer | Photo: Getty
Paul Clement took over Derby in the summer | Photo: Getty

Money spent, but no improvement from Clement

Clement, the former Real Madrid number two, spent in excess of £20million during the summer, twice breaking the club's transfer record on Tom Ince and then Bradley Johnson. Further signings were made in January, including Nick Blackman from Reading and Marcus Olsson from Blackburn.  

With such high spending comes high expectations and Clement has fallen short of fulfilling the "priorities" set out by Morris in the summer. 

The chairman added that Derby are in a "fortunate position" to be able to appoint Wassall, whose first challenge is MK Dons at home on Saturday.