Kent hammer Glamorgan

Friday's 10-wicket defeat to Kent was the county's sixth in seven Championship games and relegation to Division Two seems inevitable.

"It's a poor start to one competition in one season after five years of success," Russell told BBC Sport Wales.

"John is one of the best coaches I've ever come across in cricket."

Ton no consolation to Ganguly

New overseas signing Sourav Ganguly has also praised the work put in by Derrick, and Russell is adamant that the coach could not be doing any more.

"If John does have a problem it's what I'd call the [Wales rugby coach] 'Mike Ruddock syndrome'," Russell said on BBC Radio Wales' Sportstime programme.

In my stomach I know that I'm doing all I can as a captain and it's up to all 11 players to simply play better Glamorgan captain Robert Croft

"That means he prefers to do a lot more work than he comes out and tells people about.

"He has had a very good period of learning under Duncan Fletcher at Glamorgan and - in my judgement - he's first rate.

"As for Robert [Croft], he has been, and continues to be, an outstanding captain."

Croft himself is concerned at his side's slide, and feels every individual needs to look at their performance.

"There's no doubt the guys are trying hard, but they're not executing their basic skills well enough," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"The dressing room spirit is fine, but people simply must take more responsibility for their own performance.

"I include myself in that, I have to pick up more wickets and runs - if everyone does that we'll get there.

Other teams have strengthened their squads with Kolpak players, but we've relied on the youngsters Glamorgan coach John Derrick

"But in my stomach I know that I'm doing all I can as a captain and it's up to all 11 players to simply play better."

Derrick bemoaned the fact that his squad has missed international stars Mike Kasprowicz (with Australia), Simon Jones (with England), Alex Wharf (injured) and Matthew Maynard (retired).

"Any team that loses those sort of players will struggle," said Derrick.

"Other teams have strengthened their squads with Kolpak players, but we've relied on the youngsters.

"We'll keep fighting and look forward to next week and finding a way to improve."