Derby look set to suffer Championship relegation after 21-point deduction

Derby are facing the prospect of relegation from the Sky Bet Championship after accepting a 21-point deduction for breaching English Football League accounting rules.

The club’s administrators Quantuma have agreed a further deduction of nine points, plusafurthersuspendedthree points, for historical financial breaches.Ittakesthetotalpenalty points to minus-21, after the minus-12 for sliding into administration, leaving the Rams on minus three points and marooned at the bottom of the table with relegation to LeagueOnelookinginevitable.

The decision brings to an end a long-running saga of nearly two years, after Derby were initially charged in January 2020.

There is no right of appeal and the club have also agreed to the dismissal of their appeal againstthe12-pointdeduction issuedforenteringadministrationonSeptember22,meaning that sanction remains.

TrevorBirch,theEFL’schief executive, said: “The EFL’s objective throughout this ongoing process has been to ensure that the principles of the regulations were upheld on behalf of all clubs. In order to assess the sporting sanction that was applicable to apply to these breaches, previous P&S cases have been carefully reviewed andguidancetakenfromthem. The EFL has also considered theP&Ssanctionguidelinesas well as mitigation put forward by the club.

“Given the complex circumstances of the case and the various outstanding regulatory issues between the EFL and Derby, the league is satisfiedattheagreedoutcomeand thesensibleapproachtakenby bothpartiesinnegotiatingthis outcome and in respect of the appeal withdrawal.

“Our focus is to continue to workwiththejointadministratorstoassisttheminsecuringa long-term future for the club.”

While the latest points deduction has dealt a huge blow to manager Wayne Rooney’s hopes of avoiding relegation, Derby’sfuturehasmovedastep closer to being saved.

“This has been a difficult matter to navigate bearing in mind the various issues concerned,” said Carl Jackson, a joint administrator for Quantuma.

“While point deductions are never ideal for any club, it was critical to the club’s future that all matters were concluded between the EFL and the club in relation to historical issues. This conclusion allows us to proceed with our restructuring strategy for the clubwithprospectiveinterested parties.”