Carlton Palmer has said that Wayne Rooney should be given time at Derby County but admits that the new Rams' ownership may want to consider his position as manager if they are relegated from the Championship, speaking to Football League World exclusively.

It's been a deeply concerning season for Derby fans who have seen their side never really manage to get going and gradually fall closer and closer to the bottom three.

Indeed, with two games to go they are still not safe but Rotherham's loss against Brentford earlier this week has at least put destiny back in their hands.

It remains to be seen whether they take advantage of that, though, with two big games left to come.

For Carlton Palmer, meanwhile, Rooney should be perhaps given more time to try and get the Rams on a more positive footing but admits a relegation would see his position come into question.

Speaking to Football League World exclusively before Rotherham's first game in hand was played, Palmer explained:

"I think obviously they never expected to get relegated and that will be a problem for Wayne if they do get relegated.

"The bookies have them staying up and they're still in pole position because even if it goes to the last game of the season, they would only need a draw, assuming Rotherham don't pull something out of the bag, which we'll know this week because rather than play two games this week.

"I suppose the new owners will look and think 'if we've got relegated and we shouldn't have got relegated,' which I think with the position they were in they'll be disappointed that they did, then they might have a look at the manager situation.

"But for me, I'm not one for making changes too quickly. I think you've got to give managers the opportunity hence why Sheffield Wednesday are in the position they're in now.

"They sacked a manager at the start of the season who was doing a fantastic job in Garry Monk. You imagine you start the season 12 points behind, that's not his fault. They're 12 points behind before you start. So if you need 50 points to stay in the league, you now need 62 points.

"Everybody thinks that hiring and firing is the way forward but it's not and that's been proven. Look at Burnley, look at Norwich, straightaway bounce back when they could have sacked their manager when they were getting beat hand over fist in the Premier League.

"Watford have managed to do it although they've changed the manager on several occasions. But in my opinion, if they didn't get rid of Nigel Pearson and Craig Shakespeare I still reckon they would have stayed in the Premier League."

Certainly, it's been a season to forget for Derby but if they can achieve safety and then look to build with the new owners they can quickly move on from this campaign.

A big couple of matches await, with relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday still to come.