Derby County captain sacked 'for gross misconduct'

Derby County captain Richard Keogh has had his contract terminated following an internal disciplinary hearing.

The 33-year-old Republic of Ireland defender suffered a serious knee injury after he was involved in a car accident with Wales international Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett on September 24.

Lawrence and Bennett, who later admitted to drink-driving charges, were both fined the equivalent of six weeks' wages - the maximum contractual limit - by Derby.

A club statement on Wednesday evening following the hearing, read:

Keogh joined the Rams from Coventry in 2012 and went on to make 356 appearances, leading Frank Lampard's side to last season's Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Aston Villa at Wembley.<

Tom Lawrence Mason Bennett were convicted of drink-driving Credit: ITV News Central

A statement given to the PA news agency continued:

Lawrence, 25, and Bennett, 23, appeared in court to answer charges of drink-driving on October 15.

The pair had initially fled from the scene of the crash - which happened after a team bonding day that finished in the Joiner's Arms pub in Derby - but returned about 45 minutes later and were arrested.

Both players admitted drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. They were ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work and were disqualified from driving for two years.