Rams defender mears is set to join marseille

Monday 01 September 2008

Derby County defender Tyrone Mears is set to join French club Marseille on a season-long loan.

Mears (pictured) has no future at Pride Park after he infuriated manager Paul Jewell late last week by jetting out for a trial with Marseille without the Rams’ permission.

Jewell blasted the 25-year-old right-back and said he would never play for Derby again while he was manager.

Now Mears has been given permission to travel to Marseille to complete a loan move, with a view to a permanent deal.

Derby will receive an initial loan fee of 200,000 Euros, around £160,000, and Marseille have an option to buy the player for £1.5m.

Marseille will also pay his wages during the loan spell.

“The loan has been agreed in principle and should go through today,” said the Rams chairman of football, Adam Pearson.

Pearson said he had spoken to Mears about what happened last week and the player felt there had been a misunderstanding.

He claimed his agent had told him that everything had been sorted out and he was free to travel to Marseille for the trial.

Marseille top the French First Division after four matches and beat Sochaux 2-1 at the weekend. They have been drawn in the same Champions’ League group as Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid.

Mears joined Derby in a £1m deal from West Ham last summer after an initial loan spell. He has made 48 appearances and scored two goals.

Other stories on this day

• Best yet but still no win as the Rams sink to the basement
• Jewell: No time to feel sorry for ourselves
• Stewart has faith that Rams can still hit the heights
• Derby County connections that found the back of the net at the weekend