FRESH HOPE FOR RAMS WITH BORO AGREEMENT
A MAJOR stumbling block to resolving the future of Derby County looks to have been resolved after the Rams reached an agreement over a compensation claim by Championship rivals Middlesbrough.
Boro had launched legal proceedings because they claimed Derby’s financial breaches cost them a play-off place in 2018-19.
Wycombe, who were relegated last season after finishing a point adrift of the Rams, have put in a similar claim. Like Boro, they believe that Derby’s financial irregularities unfairly affected the standings.
The claims have been put forward as one of the major reasons that Derby’s administrators Quantuma have been unable to find a buyer for the club, as would-be owners would not want to be potentially liable for multi-million pound sums.
However, the Boro situation, at least, looks to have been sorted out.
In a statement on Friday, Derby said: “As a direct result of private conversations between (former Derby owner) Mel Morris and (Middlesbrough chairman) Steve Gibson, both parties are pleased to announce that they have reached an accord on a resolution of the claims by Middlesbrough Football Club against Derby County Football Club, and others.
“The basis of that accord will remain private but details have been shared with Quantuma,
the administrators for Derby County, who will urgently prepare the legal documentation to ratify the accord.
“Gibson and Morris were keen to develop an accord ahead of the Middlesbrough vs Derby County fixture to be played at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow. The claim has clearly been the source of much concern to both sets of fans, and especially those of Derby County. The fact that a resolution has been discussed and agreed should be comforting to both sets of supporters.
“Details of the accord shall remain private. However, it is important for all interested parties, including potential bidders, to be confident that the Middlesbrough claim will not be an impediment to Derby County progressing its plans for a sale of the club.”
Andrew Hosking, of Quantuma, told BBC Radio Derby that “several parties” remained interested in purchasing the Rams and added that he expected a preferred bidder to be named within ten days.
“It’s a huge breakthrough. I think the fans will be pleasantly surprised by the speed things will move at now,” he added.