Derby County owner Mel Morris has assured manager Paul Clement that he is under no pressure to win promotion to the Premier League this season.
The Rams have made a winless start to the new Championship campaign, with four draws and one defeat so far, but Morris is keen to look at the bigger picture.
The businessman said that the Premier League is his long-term goal, insisting that his team will get there "when [they] are ready".
He told Sky Sports News: "You can never guarantee when you'll get in the Premier League. I believe we'll get there when we are ready. It doesn't have to happen this year – we've told Paul that.
"After the playoff final two years ago, our then-manager Steve McClaren said if we'd been ready for the Premier League, we'd have got there. He was right.
"If it's not this season, then we'll redouble our efforts next year until we get there."
Derby's next Championship fixture sees them pay a visit to Preston North End on September 12.
Mark Langshaw
