RICHARD KEOGH LOOKS set to plead his case to the English Football League (EFL) after Derby County rejected the appeal against his sacking.

The former Rams captain put his case forward to the club last week following the decision to dismiss him for gross misconduct in October.

Keogh was involved in a drink-driving car crash, which has left him out of action for over a year with an anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament knee injury.

The Republic of Ireland international was a passenger in team-mate Tom Lawrence’s car, after the pair spent the day drinking alcohol on a team-bonding exercise.

Another Derby colleague, Mason Bennett, was also involved, driving another car in the incident, and both Bennett and Lawrence were banned from driving for two years.

While Derby opted against terminating their contracts, the club took the decision to sack Keogh following an internal investigation.

The 33-year-old is understood to have rejected a contract offer on reduced terms and after making his case with his appeal last week, Derby chairman Mel Morris informed Keogh that the decision stood.

Keogh, backed by the English Professional Footballers’ Association, can now take his case to the Football League.