John Eustace has spoken out about the criticism surrounding his future at Derby County, describing critical recent meetings with owner David Clowes as fans escalate their calls for his departure.

Derby entered the 2026/27 Championship season with real momentum and optimism of competing for promotion after narrowly missing out on a play-off spot the previous season, but a lacklustre end to the summer window, marred by Turki Alalshikh’s unprecedented U-turn to withdraw his proposed takeover at Pride Park, would lower expectations.

Eustace was, of course, immensely beloved among Rams fans just a few months ago, but some poor form in the early stages of the current season has harmed his reputation and could lead to the 46-year-old’s dismissal unless things improve quickly. Derby are currently second-from-bottom in the Championship, with only one win in their first eleven games, seven losses, and an equal number of games without a win ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Sheffield United.

With supporters expecting a new play-off push – aided by the expansion to a newly-inducted top-eight with more spots available – it’s no surprise that Eustace’s future has been subjected to intense external scrutiny, and frustrations have reached new heights in recent weeks.

Ultimately, however, nobody’s opinion on Eustace and his chances of holding the post is more important than Clowes’, and his feelings on the topic have now become obvious in a critical update from this part of the East Midlands.

John Eustace describes David Clowes’ conversations and his Derby County sacking attitude.

Derby’s support is overwhelmingly in the ‘Eustace-out’ camp right now, and recent defeats to QPR and Stoke City have further fueled the desire to separate ways.

Eustace has been in charge since February of last year, overseeing the Rams’ survival back in the Championship before leading a path towards top-six contention. He now faces the biggest challenge of his Pride Park career in stopping the rot and regaining the hearts and minds of supporters.

It is uncertain how much longer the former Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City manager will be able to do so, but he continues to have Clowes’ support for the time being.

That’s a major development, of course, and speaking ahead of his side’s game at Bramall Lane, he added that Clowes has given his “full support” amid a mutual understanding of the situation, with the second-tier strugglers suffering from escalating injury setbacks.

Eustace added, “I met David and we had dinner and talked about things, and he said, ‘You’ve got my full support.'”

We recognise the situation is challenging right now because to the injuries, but he is optimistic that we can get through it.”

After David Clowes’ reveal, John Eustace’s time at Derby County is coming to an end. Despite facing backlash and sack calls from Rams fans, Eustace has been in the game for a long time and understands that defeats will not be tolerated indefinitely.

They are already facing the genuine possibility of spending the entire season fighting against relegation to the League. One after previously making significant strides and growth under Eustace’s leadership, and many supporters believe their team will have plenty of time to rebuild and succeed this season if Clowes decides to sever ways and find a replacement sooner rather than later.

Clowes and Eustace have always had good connections since his selection to succeed the previous League. One promotion-winner, Paul Warne, but goodwill can’t stay forever, and, with a relegation struggle building after an impressive effort to push for a top-six finish last season, the regression has been apparent, and it will almost certainly lose Eustace his job if he fails to stem the drop.

It will be intriguing to see how the scenario unfolds in the coming weeks, since Derby fans had anticipated the Rams boss to be on his way by now.

Derby County’s forthcoming fixtures under John Eustace

The four-game stretch building up to the second and final international break window until 2027 next month seems critical and decisive for Eustace’s career, which many believe is on borrowed time at this point.

Following the trip to the Steel City, Derby will travel to Millwall next Saturday before returning to the East Midlands for two games against Norwich City and Bolton Wanderers at Pride Park.

None of Derby’s next four opponents are currently ranked higher than eleventh, and with Norwich experiencing many of the same flaws against the backdrop of promotion-competing expectations, there are no excuses for failing to record a couple of much-needed victories.

Derby, it should be noted, has not been given the easiest match schedule, having faced three promotion candidates in succession in West Ham, West Bromwich Albion, and Birmingham in September, only a week after losing to league leaders Swansea.

QPR, who defeated Derby 4-1 at Loftus Road last week, are also in the play-off mix with Stoke, but the Rams haven’t faced any other contenders, aren’t likely to before their trip to Southampton in a month, and, quite simply, don’t appear capable of beating anyone in the division as it stands.

That becomes clearer when you consider the nature of some of Derby’s draws and defeats against fellow strugglers, and if Eustace can’t turn things around in the coming weeks, it’s difficult to see Clowes’ support going so far as to allow the unpopular manager to survive the next international break.