Appleby ‘happy to help’ if he is asked, he states
FORMER DERBY CHAIRMAN RESPONDS TO RUMOURS LINKING HIM TO THE RAMS
FORMER Derby County chairman Andy Appleby says he would be happy to help current owner Mel Morris “in any way, if he asked.”
Rumours have been circulating that Appleby, through his Us-based company General Sports and Entertainment (GSE), along with former Rams chief executive Sam Rush, might be involved in a potential takeover bid.
Appleby has been following the club’s troubled season from Detroit, Michigan.
The Rams escaped relegation from the Championship on a dramatic final day of the campaign when they drew with Sheffield Wednesday.
That result coupled with Rotherham United’s failure to win at
Cardiff meant Derby survived by one point but off-the-field issues continue to make the headlines.
A takeover by No Limits Sports Ltd, owned by Spanish businessman Erik Alonso, is off and a proposed takeover by BZI, involving Dubaibased Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh
Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan, collapsed earlier this season.
The Rams are also awaiting potential punishments after the EFL won their appeal against a Financial Fair Play ruling relating to the club.
Owner and chairman Morris has been looking for potential new investment or a buyer for the club for more than two years.
Morris took control of Derby County when he bought out the club’s American ownership group in September 2015.
Appleby’s company had purchased the Rams in 2008 and Appleby has fond memories of his time at Derby.
“I loved almost every minute of my time there,” he told the Derby Telegraph at the weekend. Appleby and Rush worked together at Derby between 2012 and 2015 and they linked up again last year when Appleby’s General Sports Worldwide (GSW) sports management company acquired the London-based 366 Group, a sports management firm of which Rush is CEO.
It is understood that among 366 Group’s clients is former Rams manager Steve Mcclaren, currently working for the club as technical director.
“We have been following (Derby) and also have been hearing all of the recent rumours regarding Sam and I,” said Appleby.
“We are together now in General Sports Worldwide but, at this time, we don’t have an interest in ownership of the club.
“What I will say though is that I have always liked and respected Mel (Morris) and would be happy to help him in any way if he asked.
“I love Derby County and only want the best for the club and its fantastic supporters.”
Appleby also gave an interview to You Tube channel “fcbusiness” last week and the subject of owning a club in England came up.
“Absolutely, at some point there could definitely be a way to get back in the game in that way,” he said.
“But I am very happy to be able to advise and to broker deals now, so I think for me at this point in my career it is the best thing that I can do and the best thing to be a part of is to help people make their dreams come true.
“Now that said, in six or seven years, if we decide to sell this agency. which would be somewhat likely, I could imagine coming back and
participating in some way with a team if we found the right situation.”
Smiling, he added: “I know for instance, since the day we bought Derby, my wife would love to live in England!
“So that could be something in the future where maybe we do something like that, live there for a year or two to see that experience, but right now I am very happy with our plan and I think that not only can we do well financially with the plan that we have because of all the relationships and experience we have but we can do good also.
“By good, I mean helping English football to get better, to be more fiscally responsible and to really help these new owners come in and not just achieve their dreams but do it in a very responsible way.”
Morris is believed to be in conversations with other interested parties, the Derby Telegraph understands, and there is interest from a domestic party although reports of another American consortium have yet to be firmed up.
We have been following (Derby) and have been hearing the rumours regarding Sam (Rush) and I. Andy Appleby