Striker David Healy looks to be on his way out of Elland Road following Leeds' relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Healy, who has scored 10 league goals this season, was missing from the United side which slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Derby and assistant manager Gustavo Poyet, who deputised for boss Dennis Wise in the post-match press conference, admitted the Northern Ireland international's Leeds career may now be at an end.

Poyet said: "We are facing a summer of big decisions and we do not know whether David will play for Leeds again.

"This is only a very personal opinion, but I would not expect the current top goal-scorer in European Championship qualification to be playing in League One next season."

A 10-point deduction triggered by Leeds entering administration last week meant, even before kick-off, the Yorkshire club were doomed to end their season bottom of the table.

And an already gloomy afternoon for United became even darker when Robert Bayly, making his first senior start, was sent off in the 72nd minute for aiming a headbutt at Craig Fagan.

Poyet, looking forward to third-tier football for the first time in Leeds' 88-year history, said: "This has been the strangest season of my career, either as a player or a coach, and I hope there will never be another like it.

"We have had eight captains, used 44 players and are still trying to work out what administration will mean for us.

"And I do not think Robert deserved to be sent off.

"Too many referees do not know what it is like to be a footballer and Robert was not trying to headbutt someone, he was trying to show he was strong in front of an opponent."

Meanwhile, the promotion-chasing Rams, who were already assured of a third-place finish, had Darren Currie and Tyrone Mears to thank for goals either side of half-time which sent them into the play-offs on a high.

Derby now face a semi-final first-leg clash with Southampton - who beat Southend 4-1 - at St Mary's on Saturday.

The Pride Park return has been scheduled for Tuesday week and Rams boss Billy Davies said: "People can talk up these games as much as they like, but it does not matter to me who we play.

"Nothing will change this week, there will be no changes to our routine in terms of preparation and there will be no trips to fancy hotels.

"We will go down to Southampton looking to take the game to them and to score goals."

And the former Preston boss, who left North End in acrimonious circumstances during the close season, said: "I am disappointed Preston have not made the play-offs.

"Despite what some people may think, they are a club I hold in great affection and it would have been fantastic if they had made the play-offs as well."