Derby County have endured another tough season in the Championship but there's hope amongst the terraces that local-lad and former player Gary Rowett can quickly turn fortunes around.

In honesty, it's been inconsistent form that has cost the Rams most this season and it's the thing that cost Steve McClaren his job just a couple of weeks ago.

The former England manager was sacked by Rams bosses for the second time in his career, despite leading them up the table and closer towards the play-offs than they had been all season.

But in one of the toughest seasons we've seen at Derby for a few years, it looks like a they'll miss out on the play-offs yet again after a seriously bad run of form post-Christmas.

And away from the current squad, there are plenty of supporters reminiscing about the better times at the club, notably the 1971-72 campaign, where the Rams won the first division.

So with fan thought away from the current side and some of the better things we've seen from the side in the past, we want to open the vault and take a look at the Derby County players that were moved on far too quickly.

So with that in mind, here's the Rams stars that the club were far too quick to sell on.....

Steve Bloomer

Arguably one of the most famous and popular players to ever play for Derby County, Steve Bloomer is the club's record goalscorer and the famous "Watchin" anthem is still played at every Derby home game before the match kicks off.

He played at Pride Park for 15 years between 1891 and 1906, before he was sold to Middlesbrough, where he made over 150 appearances for Boro.

He then returned to Derby for one last spell but many supporters think he was moved on far too quickly in-between his two spells at the club.

Iván Calero

A more recent player to be moved on from the club, Ivan Calero was signed by Steve McClaren during his first spell in charge at Pride Park, who brought the Spaniard to England from Atletico Madrid.

Calero was a player who spent time in both the Real Madrid and Atletico youth team's and there was plenty of hype surrounding his arrival at the club.

But he failed to really break into the first-team at the club and left after just two years.

Now with Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivise and just 21-years-old, there's plenty of thought that Calero is still a player who can make it at the top.

John Brayford

Not the most iconic or revolutionary of signings, defender John Brayford was signed at the beginning of the 2010 season, and quickly went on to become one of the most important players at the club.

In just three seasons, he played over 110 times for the Rams, picking up various end-of-season gongs for his continued strong performances.

He was allowed to join Premier League newcomers Cardiff City for just in 2013, but failed to break into the side under Malky Mackay, suggesting he might've been better staying with a club that offered him so much.

Igor Štimac

One of the most popular players to have turned out for the Rams in more modern times was defender Igor Štimac, who featured over 80 times between 1995-1999.

He was recently elected into the Derby County players hall of fame by supporters, who have branded him as one of the best defenders to have ever turned out in the East Midlands.

Their only gripe is that he was probably sold too quickly, for a mere £600,000 to West Ham United.

Jeff Hendrick

Sold on for a record club fee, Republic of Ireland midfielder Jeff Hendrick is certainly a player who has been well-missed by County fans this season.

Now mixing it with some of the world's best in the Premier League, Hendrick proved himself as one of he most hardworking and committed players in Derby's midfield, having come through the ranks as a schoolboy.

Whilst the transfer fee recouped marks a significant amount for the Rams, there's little doubt they would have kept him on longer if they could have.