Rams’ right battering...

BORO owner Steve Gibson is strongly defending his corner in a legal battle with Derby County – and rightly so.

Back in May 2019, Boro were squeezed out of the Championship play-off places by one point, by overspending Derby County.

The Teessiders were denied a crack at promotion, worth £160million, in part because County had broken EFL profitability and sustainability rules.

That saw the controversial £81m sale of Pride Park to Derby owner Mel Morris, creating a false profit and allowing more to be spent on players.

Fuming Gibson (below) launched a legal battle long before Derby fell into administration and it is only right that he fights to have it settled now that the club is in the hands of official administrators.

There have been spectacularly blunt releases sanctioned by Gibson this week.

“In simple terms, MFC allege Derby County and its directors systematically cheated and that such cheating affects the integrity of the competition,” a statement read.

“Had Derby County not cheated, MFC would have been in the play-offs. However, Derby County did cheat and, as a result, MFC lost the opportunities.”

Gibson said in an open letter: “You (the administrators) continue to represent that the claim that we and Wycombe have against Derby County… is preventing the sale of Derby County. This is not true.”

Derby are now bust and any new owners – potentially Mike Ashley – won’t take on the risk of fighting that battle and possible compensation.

Gibson has no wish to see Derby liquidated, but no appetite to let a club get away with cheating, when he sticks to financial constraints.

If Derby do go bust, it won’t be because of Boro’s stance, it will be because of the mismanagement and dithering elsewhere.

Gibson is right to play hard ball – to uphold some semblance of financial stability and fair play.