Mears fined for trip to Marseille

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In an incredible story, it has emerged that the 25-year-old right-back absented himself from Rams training duty today and travelled to France in order to partake in a trial with Marseille.

It is believed that OM initially approached Derby with an offer to take the player on loan, on completion of a cursory trial period.

The player, for whom Derby are prepared to listen to offers, is valued at £2million by the Championship club and as such, they refused to release the player and dismissed the offer as ‘laughable’.

Club manager Paul Jewell (pictured) met with Mears to discuss the offer and both player and manager decided against the opportunity.

However, it has now emerged that the defender took it upon himself to go to France without the expressed permission of his club and will face disciplinary action as a result of his jaunt.

Paul Jewell fumed: “To jump on a plane and go and train with another club without permission is an absolute disgrace and an afront to Derby County and the supporters. I have dealt with a lot of things in football but this is incredible.”

Jewell described the offer from the Champions League participants, and revealed that club chairman Adam Pearson had received a fax regarding the player on Thursday.

“Tyrone came to see me about 4pm yesterday and I said to him ‘are you willing to go on trial and he said no’.

"He is an established player, why should he go on trial? He wouldn’t go on trial to a club in this country, something he agreed with.

"I said I’d see him at training today and now this has happened.”

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Derby County defender Tyrone Mears has been fined six weeks' wages after having an unauthorised trial with Marseille in August.

The 25-year-old has since gone on loan to the French club until January.

Manager Paul Jewell told BBC Radio Derby: "He was fined for going without our permission, leaving the country and not reporting for training."

Jewell said the fine was not as high as the £75,000 figure reported and Mears has got six weeks to appeal.

Mears joined Derby from West Ham last season and appeared 25 times as the Rams suffered Premier League relegation.