Middlesbrough and Wycombe say they are willing to discuss compromise over claims against Derby
- Published
Derby and Middlesbrough drew 0-0 at Pride Park last August
Middlesbrough and Wycombe say they are willing to compromise in their action for compensation against Derby County.
Both clubs have outstanding claims against the Rams, who have been in administration since September.
"MFC has made clear that it does not wish to see Derby County fall into liquidation," said a statement on the Middlesbrough website.
Wycombe owner Rob Couhig told BBC Radio Derby he empathised with Rams fans but his club were not the "bad guys".
Championship side Boro and League One Wycombe are both claiming loss of income because of breaches of English Football League financial rules by Derby.
Boro say they are "happy to be realistic" in their expectations in order to help the Derby administrators complete a takeover deal.
"However, it is ultimately up to the administrators or the new owner to put a firm and realistic proposal forward or merely agree that MFC's claim, when finally determined, will be met in full by the new owners," their statement continued.
Derby manager Wayne Rooney was expecting administrators Quantuma to name a preferred bidder for the club last week, but it is understood that none of the three interested parties are willing to proceed without the Middlesbrough and Wycombe issues being resolved.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said on Monday: "We are aware that Derby County consider the claims to be spurious, but despite this, the current bidders appear unwilling to assume the risk of defending them."
Administrators' arguments 'inconsistent'
Middlesbrough say they first made a claim against Derby in May 2019 after the Rams pipped them to a place in the play-offs and arbitration began in January last year, but they claim the East Midlands club used "various procedural tactics" to hold the matter up.
"There is a certain inconsistency to the arguments presented by the administrators," the Boro statement added.
"On the one hand, it is said that there is no prospect of the claim succeeding, in which case there is no risk for a new owner. But, on the other hand, the administrator apparently cannot find a new owner because they will not proceed without the claim being settled due, presumably, to the fact that it has merit and might succeed.
"If the claim has no prospect of success MFC does not understand why a new owner would not resolve the matter by accepting that the arbitration decision should be honoured."
Derby have had 21 points deducted this season for going into administration and financial breaches, but climbed off the bottom of the Championship table on Saturday with a home win over Sheffield United.
Rooney believes they can avoid relegation to League One but they were not able to give defender Phil Jagielka a new contract and sold Graeme Shinnie to Wigan for a nominal fee after the EFL asked the administrators for proof of funding for the remainder of the season.
'Trying to turn us into the bad guys'
Wycombe were relegated from the Championship on the final day of last season
If the points deduction had been applied last season, then Derby and not Wycombe would have been playing in the third tier this campaign.
"Only one club was hurt as a result of that, and that was Wycombe, which fell short by one point to Derby," Couhig added.
"I am fascinated and supportive of the Wayne Rooney/Derby experience and it is one of the most magical things I've ever watched.
"But the Wycombe experience is very important to us and we want to do it right. So I would like for us to get compensation.
"We have always said we are willing to meet and talk with people and make reasonable commercial compromise."
Couhig said he had tremendous empathy for the Rams with suggestions the club could go out of business.
"What the administrators have done successfully is they have moved this negotiation into the public and have tried and turn us into the bad guys. I don't accept that premise," he added.