"It's a dream come true": Derby County star Cashin on League One promotion

Eiran Cashin has been one of the most influential Derby players over the past few seasons.

The academy product has seen the worst of times with administration and relegation and now the best with League One promotion.

The young centre back has been hailed as one of the best young defenders in the EFL and it is no suprise that there has been Premier League interest in him.

However, he has remained at Derby and seems to be enjoying it more than ever.

Following promotion to League One, he told Rams TV: “It's unbelievable, really. When I first signed for this club I was around 11 years old and to even play for the first-team was something of dreams.

“To actually achieve promotion and get us back into the Championship is unreal, it's a dream come true.”

Cashin was very close to a move to Brighton in the summer as on transfer deadline day, he was sat in a coffee shop, unsure on whether he was going to travel down south or with Derby’s players to their next away game.

The deal fell through as the deadline passed and Cashin eventually comitted his future to Derby by signing a contract to keep him at Pride Park until June 2027.

He has said that Paul Warne has been a big influence on his development, one of the many reasons why he stayed at the club.

“He's been really good for me,” he said, ”He's put a lot of faith in me, challenged me when I need to be challenged and tried to make me a better player, which I think he has.

“The gaffer knows the right people to bring in, good people. I'm very thankful for that and overall he's been very good for me on and off the pitch. To be able to pay him back with promotion and some good performances is perfect.”

After the final whistle on the final day against Carlisle, Cashin was one of the most animated people in Pride Park as he was swarmed by fans running onto the pitch and held aloft in celebration.

The 22 year-old said that he felt that he owed promotion to the Rams fans after all that they have been through.

“These fans have been through a hell of a lot in the last few years, we all have.

“The one positive that came from it is that it brought everyone together and you can still feel it now. We've never been so close; the fans, the community, the staff.

“Hopefully this will be remembered for years to come and that's what it's all about, every football club wants to have those sorts of memories and days and thankfully we gave them one.”