Ravanelli vows to stay put

Ravanelli has hit 11 goals for Derby this season

Fabrizio Ravanelli has warned Derby manager John Gregory that he will not be forced out of Pride Park.

Gregory gives Ravanelli marching orders

The Rams boss has told the former Italian international there is no future for him at the relegated side.

Gregory can say whatever he wants, I have a contract

Fabrizio Ravanelli

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," said the striker.

"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 relegated Derby 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.

Wage budget

If the Rams opt to get rid of Ravanelli it could cost them around £250,000 to pay off the remainder of his contract.

Ravanelli scored 11 goals for doomed Derby, but has not hit a Premiership goal since before Christmas.

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

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