Mile Sterjovski has dismissed criticism from Derby manager Paul Jewell that the Australian and his fellow Christmas signings let the relegated Rams down.
Jewell said his mid-season acquisitions, including Sterjovski, Robbie Savage and Danny Mills, did not show enough as Derby fell from England's top-flight with the lowest points tally in Premiership history.
The manager said the entire squad was under scrutiny after the humbling 4-0 loss to Reading on the final day ended their stay in the game's most lucrative domestic competition.
Sterjovski, who is in Australia preparing for next Friday's friendly with Ghana, rebuked Jerwell's claims and vowed to stick with the club as it attempts to pick up the pieces.
"I don't agree with that. I think we all came into a difficult situation. We have tried our best and we've worked hard," Sterjovski said of Jewell's assessment.
"The football we have played since we arrived has improved."
"He's got the right to his own opinion and it's up to us to change that and work hard and keep going."
Sterjovski made his bow for the struggling Rams in February after a drawn-out transfer from Turkish club Genclerbirligi.
Now settled, the winger said he was looking forward to working hard to ensure the club's stay in the Championship is a brief one.
"From the comments that the coach has said there is going to be a lot of new faces coming in. We have to change the way things have been going, we need to get results," Sterjovski said.
"Everyone is going to be ready to change this season around. There is going to be a lot of expectation for us to do that and we have to rise to the occasion."
"We just have to step up and start winning games."
He said being dubbed the worst side in English Premier League history had not forced him to contemplate another fresh start.
"That doesn't worry me at all, those sorts of labels. I do see my future there," he said.
"I signed there for two years and I like to honour my contracts. I'm looking forward to the future and it's much brighter than what it seems."
"We're all looking forward to next season and we have to turn that around and there's no other way to put it, there's no other excuses. We have to start winning games," he added.