Phillip Cocu has slammed the ‘big mistake’ made by some of his players after two stars were charged with drink driving – and his captain was ruled out for the season.
It is understood Richard Keogh was a passenger in the Range Rover of Tom Lawrence which ploughed into a lamppost on Tuesday night.
Lawrence and teammate Mason Bennett were both arrested and subsequently charged to appear at court.
Keogh suffered what the club say is a serious knee injury following a planned team-building exercise for the Rams who have won just one game in the Championship so far this season.
Most players left around 8pm, according to the club, but some stayed on drinking and the incident in question took place just before midnight.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Ahead of Saturday’s home game against Birmingham, Cocu has lamented the ‘bad example’ some of his players set.
“It is bad news and a bad situation for everybody in the club,” he said.
“On Tuesday, after the normal training session, we had a team-building activity planned.
(Image: Jon Hobley/News Images/REX)
(Image: Nigel Keene/ProSports/REX)
“First idea was to play football-golf, but the weather was really bad and so we changed the plan and we went bowling. After the bowling there was a team dinner.
“Most of the players around 8pm they left and a small group stayed and continued at the bar.
“Due to an incident later, an alcohol-related incident, it cost us to lose our captain for the rest of the season. In the end, it was bad news for the whole team.”
(Image: Derbyshire Constabulary)
Asked if he was aware of the group of players staying on, Cocu said: “No, we were not present at the time.
“Some senior players were at the time present, yes they have to take their responsibility, behave in a professional way to know what they can do and what they cannot.
“It was a very bad example and bad choice they made and a big mistake, and there will be consequences, of course.”
