A kind of comfort in clarity over the takeover
CLARITY is welcomed with open arms and outweighs any feeling of disappointment over the latest Derby County takeover news.
The proposed purchase of the club by Bin Zayed International is off and there is understandable frustration at the outcome of what developed into a saga.
Talks between Rams owner and chairman Mel Morris and BZI had stretched back almost a year.
Four months ago, it was announced that a deal had been agreed in principle with Derventio Holdings, a company set up by BZI, and the takeover was approved by the English Football League.
A swift completion was expected. The fans waited, and waited, and waited. Months came and went, and their patience was stretched.
Was the takeover on or off? What was behind the delays? Had the attraction for the potential buyers changed given what has happened to football in the past year with the Coronavirus pandemic, no crowds at matches, revenue streams hit severely?
‘Imminent’ became a much-used term surrounding the takeover but the longer the wait for completion, further away completion appeared to be.
So yesterday’s reports (though nothing official yet from the club nor from BZI) that negotiations had ended did not come as a surprise.
Takeovers can be drawn-out affairs by their nature and contractural obligations presumably mean not much can be said in public.
Again understandable, but that does nothing for growing impatience nor does it ease uncertainty and concern.
At least there is now some clarity on an issue that has dragged on for far, far too long.
Time to move on, time to look at other possibilities.
There are interested parties waiting in the wings and we wait to see how any talks with those parties develop.
Morris has come in for criticism from some fans but his message has remained consistent.
He has said all along he will only sell if it is in the best interests of the club and that potential buyers have to be the right fit and have the plans and the finance to take the club forward.