Derby administrators seek short-term funding to ensure the crisis-torn Rams can START the season

Derby’s administrators seek short-term funding to ensure the crisis-torn Rams can start the League One season… with only five senior players under contract as they prepare to return to training

League One side Derby have been in administration since September last year
US businessman Chris Kirchner’s bid to to buy the club collapsed this month
They are set to return for pre-season training with just five senior players
Administrators are seeking short-term funding so they can start the season

By Tom Collomosse For Mailonline

Published: 14:17 BST, 20 June 2022 | Updated: 14:20 BST, 20 June 2022

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The administrators running Derby County have confirmed they are seeking short-term funding to ensure the club can start the season.

The crisis-torn Rams, managed by Wayne Rooney, have been in administration since last September and are due to return for pre-season training on Monday – with only five senior players under contract.

US businessman Chris Kirchner’s bid to buy the club collapsed earlier this month. Former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is one of three interested parties but the clock is ticking, with the League One fixtures to be announced on Thursday and the campaign scheduled to begin on July 30.

A statement from Quantuma read: ‘Before a sale is finalised, there is an immediate requirement to secure the short-term future of the club, to allow players to be signed, issue season tickets for sale and to secure commercial agreements, as well as our best intentions to bring the uncertainty for staff and supporters to an end as soon as possible.

‘We are having extremely positive and productive discussions with interested parties in relation to the short-term requirements and are confident of those discussions leading to a sale thereafter which will secure the club’s long-term future.

Derby administrators are seeking short-term funding to ensure they can start the new season

Wayne Rooney’s side has just five senior players ahead of their return to pre-season training

‘The club does not have the luxury of time, and so, even without hard deadlines, the club’s future must be secured very soon.’

Football League chiefs pledged to take a greater role in sale negotiations but have so far been frustrated by confidentiality agreements attached to the various bids.

Unless the successful bidder agrees to pay creditors at least 25p in the pound, Derby face starting next season with a 15-point penalty.

They were relegated from the Championship last term after being docked a total of 21 points – 12 for entering administration and nine for historical financial breaches.