Chelsea legend Frank Lampard in the running to become Derby manager

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard in the running to become Derby manager

Frank Lampard is the frontrunner for the Derby job.

The former Chelsea midfielder has been interviewed for the position and came across impressively.

Owner Mel Morris wants to take his time on an appointment but sources indicate Lampard has a genuine chance to secure his first management role at Pride Park.

Lampard is keen to step into the dugout and held talks with Ipswich earlier this month but was unable to agree terms.

Derby are speaking to a number of candidates, with Championship experience high among the list of credentials. Brentford boss Dean Smith, Alex Neil at Preston, Paul Cook at Wigan, and Millwall’s Neil Harris have been mentioned. Mick McCarthy is available.

But Lampard, 39, is seen as a methodical football thinker having completed his A Licence coaching badge and Morris would not be averse to giving the former England international his break.

Lampard has spoken about his desire to follow his ex-international teammate Steven Gerrard into management. Earlier this month Lampard said: ‘I’ve spent a lot of time at Chelsea this year, gaining hours of experience. With the right opportunity and right timing for me, I’d really take a very close look at it.

‘Because you do want to give back, show you can help try to develop players, and help them tactically and whether you can be a good man manager. And I certainly think Steven will make a success of it.

‘The FA are working much more closely now with ex-players to try to get them into their coaching badges.

‘I think we had some barren years when the help wasn’t there, and players went away from the game. But now I think they’re trying to help players go straight into getting their coaching badges.’

Morris wants to replace Gary Rowett with a successor who can guide another challenge for promotion while staying within financial fair play regulations that are set to grip more firmly this year after previous spending.

Nevertheless Derby will have a wage bill in the top eight for Championship clubs next season and own a first class training ground and stadium.

Rowett was able to secure a contract worth nearly £1million per year when signing a new deal in January.

Picking Lampard would be seen as something of a gamble but Morris also gave Paul Clement his first No 1 role after he had assisted Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Clement worked with Lampard at Stamford Bridge.

Morris is determined to get his selection right after going through four managers and two caretakers in three years since buying the club. An appointment is expected next week.