Wayne Rooney: Derby County boss says liquidation of the club 'not an option'

Wayne Rooney's Derby County side are away to Bristol City on Saturday

Wayne Rooney has dismissed reports Derby County could be liquidated unless HM Revenue & Customs reduces the amount owed by the club.

The Championship club went into administration in September and efforts to find a buyer are ongoing.

Derby and its related companies owe HMRC £29.3m and the Daily Mail reported that if part of that sum is not written off, the club could go out of business.

"This club will exist. This club will grow," Derby boss Rooney said.

"I've seen the headlines in the papers the last couple of days and that's news to me. I don't think there's even an option of the club going into liquidation.

"I know some of the staff, when they read that, get worried, but from my point of view there's quite a few buyers who are very interested in the club.

"It's not through lack of people wanting to come in and take over the club, it's purely just getting it done, getting it over the line and there are details that need sorting out before that can happen."

Derby are bottom of the Championship, having been deducted a total of 21 points by the English Football League for going into administration and breaches of accounting rules.

They are 19 points from safety and facing the prospect of dropping into the third tier for the first time since they played there between 1984 and 1986.

In a statement on Friday, joint administrator Carl Jackson said that they hoped to identify a preferred bidder later this month, with a view to a takeover being completed by the end of January.

"We can confirm at this stage that exclusivity has not been granted to any individual or group and we continue to have constructive discussions with a number of Interested parties," said Jackson.

"In terms of funding, this has been secured by the administrators, with a charge recently filed at Companies House.

"Day-to-day work to secure the future of this historic football club continues and while there are no guarantees, we remain confident of a positive outcome for the club."

And Rooney added: "This club will not go into liquidation. A new owner will come in. We have had a setback but sometimes setbacks are good. It is a chance to restart and rebuild, which I feel this club has needed.

"This gives us the opportunity to do things in the right way and try to progress through hard work and determination, but also doing things properly, which I think is important."

Asked whether the fans shared his confidence about the future, he replied: "I understand the frustration from the fans because obviously they don't get every detail. But from all the discussions I've had, this club will be fine."