Hope rises for Derby as former owner, Boro reach agreement
Derby have announced they have reached an accord between their former owner Mel Morris and Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson in relation to the Teesside club’s legal claim against the Rams.
Derby were placed into administration last September and the sale of the club to new ownership has been complicated in part by the claims of Middlesbrough and Wycombe.
The club said details of the accord between Morris and Gibson had been shared with administrators Quantuma ahead of the sides’ Championship clash on Saturday.
News of the accord follows the release of a lengthy statement by Morris issued last Friday which included an invitation to Boro and Wycombe to take up their claims against him personally at the High Court.
Morris said this would allow his old club to ‘move on for the benefit of the fans, the city of Derby, the sport and the EFL’.
Details of the accord were not released, but Derby’s statement said Morris and Gibson had been keen to develop it ahead of Saturday’s game at the Riverside Stadium.
‘The claim has clearly been the source of much concern to both sets of fans, and especially those of Derby County,’ the statement said.
Middlesbrough chairman and owner Steve Gibson claims Derby County cost his club the chance of promotion because of financial rule breaches.
‘The fact that a resolution has been discussed and agreed should be comforting to both sets of supporters.’
The statement added: ‘However, it is important for all interested parties, including potential bidders, to be confident that the Middlesbrough claim will not be an impediment to Derby progressing its plans for a sale of the club.’
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Administrator Carl Jackson added: ‘We are pleased to see that an acceptable resolution has been identified which allows us to push forward with our plans for the sale of the club.’
Derby currently sit in 23rd position in the Championship, four points from safety. Middlesbrough are in seventh, level on points with Nottingham Forest, who are sixth.