Need to complete takeover quickly is still huge
WAYNE Rooney fielded questions on the protracted takeover of Derby County during the pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Championship clash against Middlesbrough.
It is now three months since the club announced that a deal had been agreed ‘in principle’ to sell to Derventio Holdings (UK) Limited, whose ultimate controlling entity is Bin Zayed International LLC, owned by Sheikh Khaled Zayed Bin Saquer Zayed Al Nayhan.
In December, the club and Bin Zayed International issued a joint statement assuring supporters that the takeover was “on track” with a view to completion before Christmas.
The takeover remains ongoing and the club remains confident the deal will go through.
Here is what Rooney was asked.
Q) Any developments on the takeover you can tell us about?
WR: As far as I am concerned there is nothing to update. Still working on getting it done.
Q) Is it not quite as pressing for you that the takeover is done because the transfer window has been and gone?
WR: No, I think it is more important now that I’m knocking on the door. I think the quicker it is done, the better.
I have to prepare for next season. For me, as soon as that is done the better, so I can start putting my full preparations in place.
At the minute, I am preparing for different outcomes whatever they may be. The quicker I have clarity I can start preparing for next season.
Q) With six players on loan and a number of your first-team squad out of contract as well, it could be you are left with a thin squad if this goes over to the summer.
WR: No, they are all things I am looking at. We have got six players on loan and a few players whose contracts are up at the end of the season. They are all issues that will be sorted out – whether that is a player getting a new contract or a player leaving the club, or we try to keep players on loan or they go back to their parent club.
They will all be sorted out before the end of the season.
Q) We hear that the club is being run in tandem with the prospective new owners. Have you had that discussion with the new owners, are you in contact with them?
WR: No. I am in contact with (CEO) Stephen Pearce and (chairman) Mel Morris. Obviously, I let them deal with the takeover.
The news I want to hear or I want will come from them. Once I get that news, that’ll be great.