JOE Royle is not looking to follow the suggestion by a number of Division One clubs and introduce salary-capping on his players.Derby County have announced they will attempt to put a ceiling of £5,000 a week on their player earnings next season, and are looking for stars like Fabrizio Ravanelli to take 90% pay cuts.

JOE Royle is not looking to follow the suggestion by a number of Division One clubs and introduce salary-capping on his players, writes Derek Davis.

Derby County have announced they will attempt to put a ceiling of £5,000 a week on their player earnings next season, and are looking for stars like Fabrizio Ravanelli to take 90% pay cuts.

Royle doesn't believe the scheme is workable.

He said: “You can't put the same ceiling for everyone. What clubs are doing is looking at their own finances and it would be wrong for a club like Wolves for example, to have the same ceiling as say Grimsby.

“There are plenty of clubs who are living on borrowed money and have done for some time and more will get into trouble but you can't just not pay players.

“We have 29,000 come and watch us and it is our duty to the fans who come through the gate to give them the best team we can.

“You shouldn't have a ceiling for the sake of it but we do need to exercise common-sense.”

Coventry City, who Town face on Saturday, have told 10 players they face the axe with keeper Morten Hyldegaard dropped as four more games would trigger a £100,000 payment to Ikast, the 25-year-old's former team in his native Denmark.

And Morrocan Youusef Chippo is close to agreeing a settlement on his contract with the administrators so he can leave to join Qatari team Al-Sadd.

The 29-year-old Moroccan's wages are a strain on the cash-strapped Division One club, and it would be welcome news for the Sky Blues if they were able to reach a settlement on the remainder of his contract.

Wolves beating Grimsby 1-0 on Tuesday was another blow to Town's promotion hopes but Royle refuses to concede the season is over for them.

He said: “It is still not over. A lot can change in five games, seasons can change. The only thing that is predictable is the unpredictability.

“But it doesn't matter what Wolves do if we don't win our games so that is what we have to concentrate on, winning our last five matches.”

The Blues have been lifted this week with the sight of Thomas Gaardsoe out running after struggling with a groin injury recently.

Jim Magilton is still feeling sore but Royle is hoping both will train on Friday and be available to make the trip to Highfield Road.

Darren Bent will not be available with a hamstring tear but Alun Armstrong and Dean Bowditch are fit.

Town overcame a difficult Coventry side last November with goals from Bent and Pablo Counago but Royle recalls player-manager Gary McAllister causing problems.

He said: “Gary is another of those players who got better with age. He was always a top quality player but his performances for Liverpool, when he had an Indian summer to his career, were brilliant.

“He was in the best form of his career in his early 30s and is still one of, if not their best player they have. Certainly we never got hold of the game here until we got hold of him.”

City were boosted last night after skipper Mo Konjic was granted a two-year extension to his work permit.

The Bosnian international, who played with a mask earlier in the season to protect a facial injury, has been described by the authorities as 'an asset to English football.'