Fans are given update from administrators

SUPPORTERS’ GROUPS IN ‘VERY POSITIVE’ MEETING

ADMINISTRATORS for Derby County have met with supporters’ groups to discuss the club’s situation.

The Rams were plunged into administration last month, which resulted in a 12-point penalty, leaving Wayne Rooney’s side at the bottom of the Championship table.

There have also been a number of redundancies among non-playing staff as administrators Quantuma look to make savings while trying to find a new owner for the club.

On Monday night, Quantuma met with supporters’ groups to provide an update on the current situation.

Black & White Together posted the following information via their Twitter account following what they described as a “very positive” meeting.

■Ownership timescale

The administrators believe that a timescale of three months remains realistic in which to find and install new owners.

■Message to fans from administrators

The best thing that supporters can do is to buy tickets, food and merchandise. Deals that the club has in place mean that all of these revenue streams generate valuable income.

■Most difficult hurdle

Money owed to HMRC remains the most difficult hurdle to negotiate. HMRC is likely to be the biggest challenge and discussions are set to start shortly. Administrators hope a deal can be negotiated given how important the club is to the local economy.

■Redundancies avoided

There could have been more redundancies but they want to avoid harming the infrastructure of the club, especially the category one status of the Academy. They remain hopeful of having to make no more redundancies but that is down to bids proceeding, forbearance of creditors, sponsors (accelerated funding) and match-day revenues.

■Short-term funding needed

The club requires short-term funding, there is unlikely to be sufficient revenue to keep on trading without it. They are confident that short-term funding will be found but the club is not profitable as it is.

■Further points deductions?

The administrators have every intention of arguing Derby’s case and negotiating with the EFL over current and any future points deduction.

■Morris ready to sell ground

Mel Morris has told the administrator that he is very much on board with selling the ground as part of the deal. The recent removal of the Rams Investment charge on the ground was tidying up, so the only remaining charge is the MSD one.

■Improved communication

The club are confident that communication will improve from now on. The next meeting of this type will be in four weeks.

RAMSTRUST, who were also part of the Supporters Charter Group Meeting, reported the following.

■January transfer window

Should the ownership situation not be solved by the new year, then “there may be a need to sell players”.

■Academy assurances

The administrators have “ensured” that category one academy status will be something that the club “can retain”.

■EFL report

It has been confirmed to the EFL that the club “can complete the season” after a report was completed into the matter.

■New consultant

The administrators confirmed that Paul Aldridge has joined the administration process as an “independent consultant”.

■Memorabilia valuation

While the club’s memorabilia is currently being valued to enable them to “provide a full report on all assets”, there is “no intention” to part ways with any of it at this stage.

They did, though, warn that would remain the case so long as the club’s future be secured “by the end of the season”, if not, then that stance “may be reviewed”.

■Sponsor news

The administrators also confirmed that they are working with the club’s kit retailer on a “new shirt idea for fans”.