Derby losing buyers’ interest due to massive debts

Interested parties in Derby County have been alarmed by debts and future liabilities of more than £60million, it has been revealed.

The debt includes £8m owed to former boss Phillip Cocu and his two assistants, says the Daily Mail.

There is also an ‘eye watering’ HMRC bill north of £20m, as well as the £2.3m compensation payment to former captain Richard Keogh and a loan of £17.5m plus rolling interest with MSD Holdings, which is guaranteed against Pride Park.

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Would-be buyers of the Championship club are abandoning talks when calculating they will have to find more than £60m between now and next summer, a figure consisting of debt and future liabilities in excess of expected revenue.

And now, given the threat of a points deduction for a breach of EFL financial rules, sources close to investors say owner Mel Morris must revise his expectations if he is to sell the club and save it from the threat of liquidation.