IT is CVA day for Ipswich Town today and hopefully the first step to the Blues being able to strengthen their squad.If the Company Voluntary Arrangement is accepted at a creditors meeting at Portman Road this morning then the High Court in London will be informed and Ipswich can apply to come out of administration within 28 days.

IT is CVA day for Ipswich Town today and hopefully the first step to the Blues being able to strengthen their squad, writes Derek Davis.

If the Company Voluntary Arrangement is accepted at a creditors meeting at Portman Road this morning then the High Court in London will be informed and Ipswich can apply to come out of administration within 28 days. Once the Football League accept the club is on a secure financial footing again they will be allowed to look to bring in players, probably on free transfers or loans, but not many will start arriving until the beginning of July at the earliest.

The Blues see out this dismal season with a visit to Derby County with almost 4,000 Town supporters making the trip. That bodes well for potential season ticket sales, and the more sold, the healthier the finances will look when presented to the League.

Tommy Miller and Fabian Wilnis are both winning their races to be fit for the trip to Pride Park.

Miller has been a diamond in Town's midfield this season but suffered a calf strain last week and has not wanted to rush back.

Rejuvenated Wilnis has enjoyed a good season on the right side of defence but has been hit by tendinitis of the knee recently. A few days' rest will have done him good.

Even with nothing riding on it, Sunday's clash between Derby and Ipswich will have a special meaning for interim Rams boss George Burley.

Sacked by Town in October, Burley was dabbling in media work while waiting for the right opportunity to come up. He was appointed by Derby initially for a two-game stint but Sunday's match will be his seventh since arriving one month ago.

He has grabbed three wins, including his first game in charge against Norwich City, and three losses.

Burley will be able to choose between three fit keepers for the clash. Lee Camp, 18, was his only fit choice after the game at Walsall but now he has Lee Grant and Andy Oakes back.

The Rams have what they believe could be something of an odd record after being forced to change their keeper five times during this season. Mart Poom was sent off twice before moving to Sunderland. Grant replaced Oakes twice when he was injured and Camp went on when Grant had to leave the action at Walsall.

Derby will be without Steve Elliott, who had an ankle operation yesterday, while Warren Barton is due to see a specialist today about a troublesome shoulder.

Giorgi Kinkladze has been suffering from a viral infection, which forced him to miss Georgia's victory over Russia in midweek, but is expected to recover for Sunday.

Derby will honour Brian Clough at their final league match of the season against Ipswich.

The legendary loud-mouth manager will receive the Honorary Freedom of the City of Derby in recognition of his 40 years' involvement in football and in particular his part in the Rams' history.

He will be given his freedom scroll by the mayor of Derby at a private lunch at Pride Park and again on the pitch 10 minutes before kick-off.

Earlier in the day Clough will be presented with a lifetime achievement award and life membership by RamsTrust, the Derby County supporters trust.

He will also have a newly refurbished lounge named after him. Clough led County to their first league championship in 1972 but left a year later in acrimonious circumstances.

Another championship-winning Derby manager soon to have a lounge named after him is Dave Mackay, who won the title in the 1974/75 season.