Stadium gets its safety checks for new season

DERBY County’s Pride Park Stadium has undergone safety checks ahead of the new season.

Structural steelwork specialist MJ Robinson Structures posted photographs on Twitter which showed them examining the ground as part of regular postseason work.

The checks are carried out to ensure that Pride Park, currently owned by former chairman Mel Morris, is given a safety certificate, allowing supporters into the ground once the League One campaign gets under way.

It is standard work that is carried out every season and is not connected to Chris Kirchner’s takeover.

The American businessman is due to start funding the club from next week as he inches closer to a deal for the club.

Kirchner has exchanged contracts for the sale of the Rams with the club’s administrators Quantuma, conditional on the sale of the stadium, EFL approval and receiving secured creditor consent.

The EFL Board has given its conditional approval, with final approval subject to Kirchner “completing on the Asset Purchase Agreement and a deal being finalised in respect of a lease on the stadium by 31 May 2022”.

The League One season begins on the earlier date of July 30, because of the World Cup in Qatar. That is due to start in November.

The World Cup takes place over a five-week period in November and December 2022.

League One and League Two fixtures will continue as normal. The season is due to end on May 6.