Administrators have already shown desire to debate any points reduction

CLARITY NEEDED ON SCALE OF THE MOUNTAIN RAMS HAVE TO CLIMB

THE following paragraph from Derby County administrators’ catchup with fans did not make the headlines but carries significant importance.

“They (the administrators) are in constant dialogue with the EFL and remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached in the coming weeks to allow them to sell the club without ongoing uncertainty over league penalties.”

This is from the Ramstrust report of their most recent meeting with joint administrators Andrew Hosking and Carl Jackson, of business advisory firm Quantuma, on Friday.

Derby were automatically deducted 12 points when the club went into administration last month.

The punishment sent Wayne Rooney’s team toppling from 12th in the Championship on 10 points to bottom on minus two.

They have since moved on to plustwo points but they remain at the foot of the table and seven points from safety with the threat of a further points deduction, possibly nine, hanging over them.

Jackson told our sister paper, the Derby Telegraph, ahead of the home game against Reading on September 29, that the administrators have some “very good” dialogue with the EFL over the points issue.

“We are going to do our level best to negotiate, debate and try and mitigate any further points deductions. There are no guarantees but we feel that we can at least have a sensible debate and negotiation,” said Jackson.

“We are desperately keen to see this club survive, like all the fans are, and we are desperately keen that those further potential points deductions are kept to the bare minimum.

“I can’t guarantee that this club will stay in the Championship. If we can keep that further points deduction down to a minimum, there’s a chance.”

Wigan Athletic tried unsuccessfully to argue “force majeure” (unforeseeable circumstances) in terms of their administration.

Jackson did not rule out Derby lodging such an appeal on the back of Mel Morris’ claims over the impact of the coronavirus pandemic

We are going to do our level best t to negotiate negotiate, debate and try and mitigate any further points deductions. There are no guarantees but we feel that we can at least have a sensible debate and negotiation. Carl Jackson (ahead of the Reading game on September 29)

on the club.

“We are current l y considering that,” he said.

“We are fully lly aware and au u fait with the Wigan decision, the strengths and weaknesses esses of their argument, and we are giving due consideration as to whether we should be putting forward a similar appeal.”

Whether or not Derby are successful in an appeal against the 12-point penalty and whether or not they can keep any further points deduction down to a minimum remains r a key ke factor in attempts att to find a buyer for the club, cl surely, and it is urgent u that an agreement agreeme on this can be reached ve very soon. The uncertainty cannot continue because potential suitors would want to know the full damage and therefore the chances of the team retaining Championship status or dropping into League One.

The players, Rooney, his staff and the fans have shown already they are up for the fight.

It is only fair they and any potential owner know the size of mountain they must scale to survive.