With a week having now elapsed since their heartbreaking play-off final defeat, Derby County have began to prepare for the new campaign.

The 2-1 defeat to Villa will have hurt a lot but the Rams showed a lot of promise for future years and if they can get their transfer business right, there is no reason they cannot challenge at the top of the league again.

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On Monday, the club announced which players were being offered new contracts, which are being kept on and which are being released as free agents.

One player to face the chop was 21-year-old midfielder Tim Elsnik.

Frequently a star for the club's under-23 side in the past, the Slovenian has spent the past two seasons out on loan with Swindon, Mansfield and Northampton Town.

Despite only making three first-team appearances, he managed to endear himself to the Pride Park faithful and plenty of them were sad to see him go.

Here is what they had to say when he sent an emotional farewell message...