Derby County set to be handed points deduction

Derby County are set to be handed a points deduction as more details emerge following that incredible finish to the final day of the season.

Journalist Alan Nixon writes that the Rams could be handed a ‘massive points penalty’ for the 2021/22 campaign, with an ‘independent disciplinary appeal’ ready to go in favour of the EFL who want to charge the club for ‘overspending across three seasons’.

The East Midlands outfit are currently subject to a second takeover bid of this season with Erik Alonso now the man trying to take full control of Derby, who avoided the drop by just a point, but the current EFL dispute reportedly depends on the Spaniard reportedly looking to refinance Pride Park to ‘cover losses’, as well as ‘anomalies in the transfer values’ of some of their players.

One fan said: “The subject of a possible points penalty was raised, unprompted, by the BBC Radio Derby team yesterday – it felt as though they had an inkling. The appeal hearing started 7 weeks ago – a long time – which implies to me it’s complex.”

Football finance specialist and face of  The Price of Football, Kieran Maguire, back this up on Saturday, stating the sanction was possible.

Sheffield Wednesday found themselves in a similar situation going into this season and Nixon adds that Derby County face the same type of punishment as they now prepare to find their soul and really push for a much better finish this time next year.

The Owls ended up getting deducted a total of 12 points, after breaching rules surrounding the sale of Hillsborough, before an independent panel halved it to 6.

Nixon states how this ongoing matter has been kept quiet until the season’ came to a conclusion on Saturday, as was the case with Sheffield Wednesday’s case.

There is a huge amount that remains uncertain for Derby, but big changes are needed if they want to improve on this season, something which could be severely affected should they get this points deduction anyway.

Aside from this potential points deduction, the club remains no closer to have new owners, and the future of Rooney will still be questioned.

The manager gave his first words with tears in his eyes after keeping Derby in the Championship, saying: “It was a rollercoaster. The 90 minutes today almost sums up our season.

“Thankfully we’ve done what we set out to do. I’m delighted for the players because they’ve given me everything.

“We will get better, I can assure you of that. It’s been a very difficult season – we need to make sure now we get everything sorted off the pitch.”

Speaking to RamsTV after the final whistle, Rooney said: “It’s great to be able to say that we are safe as it’s been a tough season on and off the field at the football club.

“I can’t stress enough how good the players have been through this period, they’ve given me everything and they’ve got what they deserve for their hard work; I’m delighted for them.

“It was so important for this football club that we stayed in this division, and the preparations for next season have to start now from the top down to me and the players.”

Derby fans and players celebrating them staying up ⬆️
pic.twitter.com/kBaEqGBTQQ

— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) May 8, 2021

Rooney added: “At half-time, I asked the players to stay calm and not to panic. I knew the game would be hectic. What I wanted to see was us to control the game and calm it down, which we didn’t do in the first half.

“We managed to go 2-1 up, then we gave away some sloppy goals. the reaction was brilliant. The last 10 minutes was about managing the game.”

“The preparations for next season have to start tonight,” he said. “We have to put a plan in place to move this club forward. We all have questions and we need answers.

“We’ve all been frustrated and I share the fans’ frustrations. We want some stability and clarity and hopefully in the next few days we will get that, so we can move forward.

“We can’t have another season like we had. We have to move forward and progress, which has to start tonight.”

The 35-year-old said: “I don’t think I’ll have another season like this, even if I manage for another 20 or 30 years.

“I’m committed to this football club, regardless of what division we were in after today. I am grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given and I’m a loyal person. I know I can improve, and I know I am determined to move this club forward.

“I can relax for the next few days in terms of not constantly thinking of football and spend time with my family and then spend time at Moor Farm to make sure preparations are starting for next season.”

Meanwhile, other reports state that the EFL cast further doubt on Erik Alonso’s potential takeover of Derby County after Spanish businessman fails to respond to demand to deposit £35m in a British bank account to prove he has funds for a takeover.

Alonso, who congratulated the club staying up, privately told Derby’s current owner Mel Morris that he remains optimistic, but one source close to Pride Park said: ‘Alonso seemed a no-hoper from the start and there’s been no evidence he’s got the funds to do the deal.’

Alonso’s investment vehicle to attempt a buyout, No Limit Sports (NLS), was registered at Companies House in October, say the Daily Mail.

The only other NLS director is Tajinderpal Sumal, registered at Companies House as director at six other companies, all of them small entities or struck off.

Derby owner Mel Morris will continue to fund the club until he finds a buyer.

Fans reacted with reports saying Derby County are set to be handed points deduction as more details emerge…

@fans_county: Then it all comes down, a day later. with an almighty bump. Points deduction and no takeover (if rumours are to be true) The Derby way 😫 #dcfc #dcfcfans

@TrickyLMC: When you wake up after celebrating (like champions) with players who’ve not won a game in 16 to find out you could be proper fucked next season is beautiful for a wet Sunday morning 🤣 keep it coming you clowns 👌🏻 #nffc #dcfc #dcfcfans

@lavenderben: Catastrophic. Curious to know how the EFL appeal could now translate into a huge points deduction after such an amateurish, weak case from them in the first place

@ForestBoy87: Please let this be true 🙏

@CFCD_123: Almost as if the sale of the club had been promised before May and the efl was going to suspend sanctions until that transaction completed #dcfc

@UtchStokie: Can they be deducted sooner and taken from this seasons tally please?

@ItsAideonlynow: Two years on the trot they’ve been threatened with this. Yet they’ve only stayed up because Sheff Wed were punished for something very similar to what Derby had done. Criminal.

@METwedds: I wouldn’t be surprised to be honest. Staying up this season was a bonus. Last day drama in our favour always fun. Staying up next season could be even more difficult…. #dcfc #dcfcfans

@e_nottmforest: Don’t worry all… They will continue to be the laughing stock of the football league

@kev_1865: Need to be kicked out of the league utter disgrace

@NeilH87: Just a thought, but if there’s a big deduction coming our way for breaching FFP, plus a potential deduction for going into admin too, it makes relegation next season inevitable. The fact we’d then only end up in L1 rather than L2 makes yesterday even more pivotal….. #dcfc

@AWJThompson: I bet if we get found guilty this time we will get hammered with points and a transfer embargo to make sure we go down next season.

@longden_rufc: I’m not bitter at all, all 3 teams went down because they weren’t good enough over 46 games BUT if that was Rotherham or Wycombe in the same position as Derby then the points would be took straight off them and the other club would be kept up.