Alonso: We will go ahead with takeover
AND SPANIARD SAYS DEAL DOES NOT DEPEND ON WHETHER CLUB AVOIDS DROP
ERIK Alonso insists his takeover of Derby County remains on course after claims it was on the brink of collapse.
Mailonline had reported that Alonso’s No Limits Sports Ltd company had attempted to refinance Pride Park Stadium to complete his purchase of the club.
The report said “alarm bells are ringing inside the club and there is a realisation that the buy-out is unlikely to go through”.
However, Alonso has said that is not the case.
He said his company plans to take over the club’s debt and stadium, currently owned by Mel Morris, which would help the club in the transfer market.
“That is not true, we will go ahead with the takeover,” Alonso told TALKSPORT yesterday.
Asked why there had been doubt about the takeover, the Spanish businessman added: “I don’t know, we continue and go ahead.”
On the claim he planned to refinance Pride Park, Alonso said: “No, no, no. I asked (for) two things, the debt on my name.
“What they want to do is put the stadium under my name, that’s all, because I can use that money to buy players.”
Alonso also insisted the takeover, which still needs EFL approval, would go through even if the Rams are relegated from the Championship.
“Why not? Derby County is bigger than any division,” he added. “So yes.”
Meanwhile, Alonso’s takeover strategy has been backed by former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan.
“Erik Alonso, as I understand it, has quite substantial means,” Jordan told TALKSPORT.
“The idea that this is in jeopardy is primarily based on the thinking that if they get relegated, it must be in jeopardy.
“He talks about things like funding the stadium and switching the debt from the club to himself. That makes sense to me.
“If he’s paying for that stadium, he’s tying up a big bag of money that, he says, he would rather spend on players.
“If you take a mortgage on your house, it doesn’t mean you don’t own it and it doesn’t mean you can’t afford it.
“It just means that you’re making the cash that’s available to you more liquid and more available to you for the bigger business picture.
“I’ve understood that this guy has got quite significant means and has made them very well available.
“He’s not using the funding of the stadium to fund the purchase.
“He’s using the stadium for a later stage so the cash is not being tied up in the ownership of the stadium but perhaps using a mortgage to make sure he’s got liquid funds to invest in Derby. I think it makes sense.
“Some people will say, because of what the Glazers are doing (at Manchester United), it’s loading the club with debt.
“But debt is only a problem if you can’t afford it. Man United can afford the debt. Man United fans just don’t like the Glazers and the way they purchased it.
“This guy (Alonso) is coming in with big ambitions.
“I think he’s a little bit loose and fast with some of the things he says.
“But there’s nothing wrong with ambition as long as you’re prepared to support it.
“So I really don’t think, despite the journey they have been on, Derby have a real worry (about the takeover).
“Their real worry needs to be overcoming Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.”