Why John Eustace has banned Sky Sports News being on at Derby County training ground | OneFootball

John Eustace has made significant changes to Derby County's training ground since taking charge of the Rams last February.

John Eustace has been in charge of Derby County for nearly 11 months following his departure from Blackburn Rovers, and plenty has happened in that time.

The Rams avoided relegation on the final day of last season, with a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke City proving to be enough to salvage their Championship status after being seven points adrift at the start of March.

Almost a year on from Eustace's return to Pride Park, Derby sit 13th in the Championship table, and they have already made their first two signings of the January transfer window. However, change has not just happened on the pitch, but also back at the training ground.

Reinventing the philosophy at the club has been one of the main aims for the head coach, and it involves one new rule that may surprise supporters.

John Eustace explains reason behind banning Sky Sports News at Derby County's training ground

After their relegation battle in the 2024/25 campaign, the aim for the Rams this season has been to finish in a mid-table position. It's been a positive first half of the season, but Eustace is determined not to let standards slip.

Speaking to Derbyshire Live, Derby's boss explained the changes that he has enforced at the training ground, Moor Farm, to enhance the performances of those at the club. Eustace said: "We don't do Sky Sports news here. We have training on instead, just to make sure the right messages are getting through to the players.

"It will have game plans on, too, and that's on 24/7, really. But I also felt it was important that when you come through the entrance of the training ground, you understand and see the history of the club hit you straight away.

"People will realise just what a serious club it is because we've undoubtedly got the history. I wanted people to see images of Brian Clough, Arthur Cox and the iconic figures when they walk in. We've won the league, we've been in Europe too, so people have to realise that when they come through those doors, we are serious about what we want to achieve."

Eustace continued: "We've also changed the route for the dressing rooms, and we've put more fans around the place. I'm very big on togetherness and the kind of message it sends to the players. You can see all the pictures around the training ground of them all being together too and showing really good moments that we've had throughout the season.

"We've smartened the dressing rooms up, we have no phones in the canteen because this is a place where you come to learn and work. That's the environment we want, and I feel we've got the right balance on that. The players drive it as well, so when you're recruiting, and you're bringing in players, they know they have to drive those standards and realise how important it is to be part of the squad and the team.

"They've got a responsibility to each other, and if all those messages are around the training ground all the time, then it can only help. I like the players to self-drive it, but also there's a level of seriousness that, if I have to step in, then they will understand why."

"But ultimately, when they're on the pitch, they're going to battle for those 95 minutes. They have to take responsibility for that, so they can't have everything given to them all the time. Ultimately, we all have the same aim, and that is to be successful."

John Eustace's Derby County record is respectable

Once again, Derby are looking to avoid relegation to League One as their main aim, with a mid-table finish an obvious target following last season's survival.

While the football has not always been the prettiest under Eustace, there is no denying that he is able to find a way to get results at important times - with his side's 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough on New Year's Day a true example of this.

With 20 games to go this season, the Rams have the opportunity to catch those ahead of them in the race for the play-offs, although they will also have one eye on the situation at the bottom of the table.