Morris hope for Derby sale

MEL MORRIS has claimed Derby are in administration because it is the only way the Championship club can attract a new owner.

The Rams have been deducted 12 points, sending them to the bottom of the table, and face a further ninepoint penalty from the EFL for alleged breaches of spending rules.

Administrators Quantuma are now in control of the club and say there are up to six parties interested in buying Derby.

Manager Wayne Rooney this week hit out at Morris for his handling of the situation yet Morris, who had owned the club since 2015, expects buyers will now come forward. ‘I could see that many people we were in discussions with were simply not going to do a deal unless a critical event occurred,’ said Morris. ‘So what do you do at that point?

‘But with that level of total debts, shareholder loans, everything, you have to draw a line in the sand.

‘A large number of parties that were interested before are still interested today. I don’t see any major challenges in finding someone who will want the club and stadium.’

Derby’s debts are thought to total £50million, though the administrators are confident they will fulfil their fixtures this season. They play at Sheffield United today.