Derby County: MPs join fight to save club in administration

The club has been in existence since 1884

MPs are urging the government to intervene to safeguard the future of Derby County.

The Championship side went into administration in September with severe debts and have been deducted 21 points.

The English Football League (EFL) has given the club until 1 February to prove it can fund the rest of the season or it could face expulsion.

But administrators say legal cases brought against the Rams by other clubs are delaying a takeover.

Derby North MP Amanda Solloway and North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen pledged to raise the matter with the sports minister.

Mr Bridgen has also been involved in a meeting with EFL bosses.

Derby County currently sit 23rd in the Championship

Derby County's administrators Quantuma said efforts to secure a buyer were being hampered by outstanding legal cases involving Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers.

Both clubs are unhappy at the impact of Derby County's financial dealings on their own league placings in recent seasons.

Quantama said the three current interested parties were not willing to put their money into the club until there was clarity over whether compensation would need to be paid.

The administrators have said they may seek a legal ruling if the EFL does not step back from its current position of the cases being regarded as football debts that would need to be paid back in full.

A petition calling for the government to intervene in the situation has been signed by more than 41,000 people.

Mr Bridgen said there were a large number of Rams fans in his constituency and it would be "devastating" if the "dubious" claims for compensation put the club's future in jeopardy.

"I will be lobbying the Government to ensure we don't have a disaster on our hands," he said.

"If they were ejected from the league they'd have to start again at the very bottom and work their way back up.

"I don't think there is any football fan of any allegiance across the Midlands that would want to see that happen to Derby County, one of the oldest clubs in the UK."

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said the sports minister has spoken to the EFL to understand the latest situation regarding the Rams.

A spokesperson said: "Whilst its future is a matter for the club, the EFL, administrators and any potential buyers, the sports minister has urged everyone to take a pragmatic approach, in the interests of staff, fans and the local community."

The EFL has been approached for a comment.

Analysis

By Simon Hare, BBC East Midlands Today reporter

Almost 140 years of football history in Derby is at risk of ending at the end of this month.

Optimism of a takeover has in turn been taken over by very real fears of liquidation.

Fans are petitioning and MPs want answers from the government and football authorities.

But time is running out and the boss of Marketing Derby has called this "a Bombardier moment."

John Forkin was referencing the successful fight to save train-building in the city a decade ago.