Preferred bidder set to be named ‘imminently’ and Appleby still in frame
ADMINISTRATORS SAY THEY ARE MOVING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO SECURE SALE AFTER KIRCHNER PULLS OUT
DERBY County’s administrators say they expect to name a preferred bidder for the club imminently.
Administrators Quantuma issued a statement following the decision by American businessman Chris Kirchner to withdraw his bid.
In the statement, the administrators said Kirchner’s bid did not “meet the level of other bids received” and that one of the remaining bidders has increased his offer for the club.
Kirchner pulled out of the process late on Thursday night.
The administrators issued a statement saying: “Following our announcement yesterday, we can confirm that, as has been widely reported both on social media and other media outlets, that Mr Kirchner has withdrawn his interest in acquiring the club.
“We would like to put on record our thanks to Mr Kirchner and his team for engaging in the process.
“However, as we have made very clear throughout this process, the issues we are having to deal with are complex and we simply were not in a position to accept Mr Kirchner’s bid as it did not meet the level of other bids received.
“Whilst we will not be engaging in any social media communications, we have seen some of the tweets exchanged yesterday (Thursday) between Mr Kirchner and others, and would like to put on record that we disagree with much that has been said.
“Whilst yesterday (Thursday) was a difficult time, it provided a stimulus to one of the remaining bidders who increased his offer for the club.
“We expect to name preferred bidder status imminently.
“We repeat that we are moving as quickly as possible to achieve a sale of the club.”
Former Rams chairman Andy Appleby’s consortium remains in the running to buy the club, we understand.
There were three potential buyers, it was reported last week, including Kirchner.
It has been reported that the other interested party could be a local consortium with former chairman Peter Gadsby involved.
Gadsby was chairman the last time the Rams won promotion to the Premier League in 2006-07 and he has experience of running the club.
The Appleby interest is still on the table, we have been told.
He is chairman and CEO of sports marketing and management agency General Sports Worldwide (GSW)
Appleby originally purchased the Rams in 2008 through the thennamed General Sports and Entertainment (GSE) before selling the club to Mel Morris seven years later.
Kirchner said it was with “real sadness” that he pulled out of the race to buy the Rams.
The American businessman made his interest known in October in an open letter to fans.
But on Thursday night, he took to Twitter to make his frustration known, saying there had been no further progress on a deal to take charge at Pride Park.
He then issued a statement saying: “It is with real sadness that I can confirm I am withdrawing from the process to buy Derby County Football Club.
“First and foremost, I would like to apologise to the fans.
“As you know, I’ve been in talks with the administrators for about two months.
“Two weeks ago, I made a formal offer to buy the club. I believe I presented a very detailed, generous and ambitious long-term sustainable business plan. It included purchasing the stadium, future funding and maintaining the academy’s status. We improved that offer further today (Thursday).
“I wanted to agree a deal that I
thought was in the best interests of all parties but, unfortunately, the last 24 hours has proven that just isn’t possible.
“So it is with deep regret that I must now stand aside and let the administrators pursue their own course.
“As I did when I entered the process, I want to be transparent in this process and communicate to the fans first and directly. I’m just very sorry it’s not better news.
“I wish all Derby supporters and everyone at the club all the best for the future.
“My team and I are going to move forward into club ownership, as was our goal when we set out, and are moving forward.”