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    Derby hit by new financial blow with instalments owed on sale of Kamil Jozwiak to MLS side Charlotte

    DERBY’S hopes of avoiding liquidation are being hit by a new  financial blow.County’s next owners will have to pay for Kamil Jozwiak — the Polish star who is being sold to MLS side Charlotte.
    Derby manager Wayne Rooney is facing more financial challenges for his clubCredit: Getty
    The transfer fee from the sale will go into the kitty, as the administrators try to get through to the end of the season. The sum is over £1million.
    However, Jozwiak’s former club Lech Poznan are still due instalments on the sale to Derby two years ago — also worth over £1m — and that has to be settled.
    So this deal helps prop up Wayne Rooney’s Rams for now but means an additional cost in the overall price of the club, for a player who will never play for the next owner.
    This football creditor goes on top of Arsenal, who are due a chunk of the transfer fee for Krystian Bielik.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BIG DEAL .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Man Utd vs Tottenham – PRICE BOOST: Get Red Devils at 35/1, or Spurs at 60/1
    And Derby are still facing a legal battle with Wycombe.
    The Rams will be hit with an official claim for compensation from owner Rob Couhig after a meeting with club administrators failed to find a solution.
    Wycombe want cash — between £6m and £14m — after Derby stayed up last season and they went down.
    The latest compromise number is set to be lower — but adds to the bills faced by the admins as they hunt a new buyer.
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    The EFL have already told Derby to sort out the claims of Wycombe and Middlesbrough, with the larger Boro case shelved after Steve Gibson and former Rams owner Mel Morris struck an undisclosed deal.
    It is a double concern in the hand-to-mouth existence at Derby, where the funds will run out at the end of next month — with no guarantee of cash for wages in May, June or July.
    The EFL have been told there is cash to fulfil fixtures up until the last match on May 7, this includes a loan facility from US financiers MSD Holdings.
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    Administrators Quantuma claim there is live interest. But it would be difficult to complete a sale by that date.
    If Derby go into liquidation, they could start again in League Two next season.
    But it is at the discretion of the EFL board, who are likely to go to a vote that would need 90 per cent of the EFL’s 72 clubs to let that happen.
    Derby’s next owners will have to pay for Kamil Jozwiak, who is being sold to CharlotteCredit: Rex
    So only EIGHT would have to object — and the Rams would be looking for a home well down the football pyramid.
    If Derby are liquidated, then one less team is relegated either in the Championship or League One — depending on when that decision is taken. More

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    Wayne Rooney says Derby County’s financial crisis will stretch into next season after latest takeover letdown

    WAYNE ROONEY says Derby’s financial problems will stretch into next season after the club’s latest takeover letdown.The club’s administrators called staff for a meeting on Wednesday but told them there is still no preferred bidder – despite there being two interested parties.
    Wayne Rooney’s Derby are in a Championship relegation scrapCredit: PA
    Rooney says his focus is on keeping his relegation battlers in the Championship but admits not being able to sign players is a concern.
    The Rams boss said: “What’s clear is that there is no preferred buyer and there are things now we simply cannot do – whether that’s [maintenance of] the pitch, or arrange new kit.
    “Players I want to bring in – you can’t even think about it, and it’ll go on into next season.
    “We’re in a critical position and it should’ve been sorted months ago.”
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    Rooney says he does not know if the club might face further points deductions or transfer embargoes in the future.
    But England’s all-time top scorer believes Wednesday’s meeting did suggest Derby might have a brighter future.
    He added: “I thought we were getting a buyer on December 26, so I never build my hopes up.
    “Everyone was expecting something on Wednesday.
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    “So it’s frustrating but we’ve been informed something might happen in the next four or five days.
    “And hopefully that’s the case.
    “But the majority of this squad don’t know where their future lies next season.”
    The Binnie family dropped out of the running to takeover the club.
    Adam Binnie told the BBC: “We increased our offer to £30million for Derby as a whole. 
    “The administrators gave us a response that they no longer wished to speak to us unless we increase our offer.” More

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    Lucky punter nails epic 12,594/1 accumulator as last-minute winner sees him correctly predict ALL 10 Championship games

    ONE lucky Ladbrokes punter turned £1 into £12,594 on Saturday after correctly predicting ALL Championship results.The lucky fan correctly predicted all 10 Championship fixtures to win the huge sum of money.
    Emil Riis Jakobsen’s last-minute goal secured a win for Preston… and a lucky punterCredit: Getty
    Preston’s shock victory over Bournemouth is ultimately what secured the memorable win for the fan.
    Jamal Lowe opened the scoring for the Cherries in the 50th minute, but Cameron Archer swiftly responded and netted the equaliser four minutes later.
    Emil Riis Jakobsen scored a controversial winner in the last minute of the game to claim all three points for the Lilywhites.
    Bournemouth’s Adam Smith was shown a red card in the aftermath of the goal, putting even more of a dampener on Scott Parker’s afternoon.
    Fulham, Derby, West Brom and Swansea all comfortably won their respective games on the day.
    But Cardiff, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Birmingham just sealed the win by a single goal.
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    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
    Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Our punter probably deserves £12.5k just for backing West Brom to win a game of football, but to go and predict all 10 results in the Championship, avoiding any draws, really is sensational stuff.”
    BET SLIP IN FULLFulham to beat Blackburn – 2/5
    Birmingham to beat Bristol City – 12/5
    Derby to beat Barnsley – 5/4
    WBA to beat Hull – 23/20
    Middlesbrough to beat Luton – 5/6
    Preston to beat Bournemouth – 21/10
    Millwall to beat Reading – 6/4
    Blackpool to beat Stoke – 3/1
    Swansea to beat Coventry – 7/4
    Cardiff to beat QPR – 5/2
    TOTAL STAKE – £1
    TOTAL RETURNS – £12,594.98 More

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    Cardiff set to reward rising star Isaak Davies with new deal to ward off transfer interest from two Premier League clubs

    CARDIFF are set to reward rising star Isaak Davies with a new four-year contract to ward off Premier League interest.Bluebirds youth team product Davies, 20, has caught the eye of Southampton and Brentford following impressive displays in the Championship this season.
    Cardiff’s Isaak Davies (right) battles for the ball against BlackpoolCredit: Getty
    The versatile attacker can play in all of the front three positions.
    He signed his first deal last year and it runs until the summer of 2023.
    But new Cardiff boss Steve Morison wants to tie the highly-rated starlet down on improved terms.
    Talks on the fresh deal have been positive and the club hope to reach an agreement soon.
    Wales Under-21 star Davies has become a regular for the Championship side.
    He has made 22 appearances in all competitions, the latest in a home win over Derby on Tuesday.
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    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    Davies joined the Welsh club at the age of seven and made his first-team debut against Middlesbrough in October 2021.
    He scored his first senior goal in a 3-1 FA Cup win over Preston in January.
    Wales boss Robert Page was in the stands when Davies helped Cardiff beat Wayne Rooney’s Rams thanks to a late Uche Ikpeazu goal. More

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    Derby announce breakthrough in takeover after reaching agreement with Middlesbrough in legal battle

    DERBY are a step closer to a takeover after they resolved their legal battle with Middlesbrough – just in time for their trip to the Riverside.The two Championship teams were locked in a bitter feud which was holding back the Rams from securing new ownership.
    Derby’s legal battle with Middlesbrough has been sorted outCredit: PA
    Now manager, Wayne Rooney takes Derby back to the Riverside on SaturdayCredit: PA
    Boro owner Steve Gibson was chasing £45million over the loss of a play-off spot and the chance of promotion.
    That compensation claim – as well as £6m from Wycombe – was threatening Derby’s existence as a football club with potential new owners unable to bid until the legal proceedings are closed.
    The Rams have been in administration since September, docked 21 points and are in huge debts.
    Boro and Wycombe both claim they missed out on major finances as a result of Derby’s FFP breaches.
    But the day before the Teessiders host the Rams, the East Midlands side confirmed the private agreement which could help Derby come out of administration, with boss Wayne Rooney hailing it as a ‘step in the right direction’.
    A club statement said: “As a direct result of private conversations between Mel Morris and Steve Gibson both parties are pleased to announce that they have reached an accord on a resolution of the claims by Middlesbrough Football Club against Derby County Football Club, and others.
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    “The basis of that accord will remain private but details have been shared with Quantuma the Administrators for Derby County who will urgently prepare the legal documentation to ratify the accord.
    “Gibson and Morris were keen to develop an accord ahead of the Middlesbrough vs Derby County fixture to be played at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow.
    “The claim has clearly been the source of much concern to both sets of fans, and especially those of Derby County.
    “The fact that a resolution has been discussed and agreed should be comforting to both sets of supporters. Details of the accord shall remain private.
    “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 County progressing its plans for a sale of the club.”
    OVER THE ROON
    Meanwhile, boss Rooney beamed at today’s press conference ahead of the Boro clash: “Hopefully we can move forward now. It is a step in the right direction.”
    “That was the main stumbling block so that being resolved is good news. Hopefully the bidders who’ve been in discussions can move things forwards fairly quickly now.
     “The next step is trying to get new owners in. The Middlesbrough and Wycombe situations have been hard for the administrators. Hopefully we can start to move forward.
    “Our focus is purely on the game. Our fans will go there and get right behind the team. We need them in full voice tomorrow because we know it will be a very difficult game.”
    Finally, Carl Jackson, partner on behalf of Quantuma, the joint Administrators of Derby County, 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.”
    FAN FEARS
    An estimated 10,000 Derby supporters marched to Pride Park on January 30 to protest against Morris and the EFL.
    Derby have sold out their 2,131-seat allocation for Saturday’s Championship clash.
    Security has reportedly been increased with Derbyshire Police sending two football liaison officers to the game.
    Tickets near Gibson’s seat in the directors’ box will only be available to Boro fans with previous ticket history.
    Derby are currently 23rd in the table, just four points from safety despite the deductions, while Boro are seventh, level on points with Nottingham Forest who occupy the final play-off spot.
    Furious Rams fans marched to Pride Park on January 30 and security has been tightened for Saturday’s gameCredit: PA
    Former Derby owner Mel Morris was involved in the discussionsCredit: PA
    Boro chief Steve Gibson had private conversations with his Derby counterpartCredit: Rex Features More

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    The rise of humble ‘no bull***’ Fulham star Fabio Carvalho, from Benfica to Balham and nearly signing for Liverpool

    GREG CRUTTWELL says there is “absolutely no bull****” when it comes to humble Fulham star Fabio Carvalho.Some fans have accused the Portuguese whizkid of being too big for his boots when he rejected a contract extension with the club in November.
    Balham chairman Cruttwell (back middle) helped Fabio Carvalho and his family amid his move to Fulham
    Carvalho has been superb for the Cottagers this season
    But that couldn’t be further from the truth for the 19-year-old.
    His collapsed £8million Deadline Day Liverpool move became one of the most talked about transfers of the season. 
    But he came off social media during that time so he could “block out the noise” and focus on helping Fulham.
    His refusal to sign a new deal with the Whites is still met with the odd spatter of boos and chants of “sign the contract”.
    But as the spotlight continues to blare down on Carvalho, he is still the same boy who Balham chairman Cruttwell met on Clapham Common ten-years ago. 
    He was only eleven-years-old, barely spoke a word of English but let his feet do the talking when he joined Balham’s youth set up.
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    Carvalho (bottom left) had Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea after him during his three-years at Balham
    Carvalho (second from right) “liked Fulham best” amid the transfer circus surround him as a kid
    Cruttwell told SunSport: “He will have handled the pressure of Deadline Day very well. 
    “I saw him two weeks ago, he was at Motspur Park watching some of his mates play in the under 23s.
    “I had a chat with him and just said ‘how are you finding it with all the noise that surrounds you?’
    “Obviously that noise increased with Deadling Day and he just said ‘I’m not looking at social media.’ 
    “He said ‘I’m just blocking everything out, all I’m concentrating on is playing the next game.’
    “I believe him because there’s absolutely no bull**** with him.
    “He’s like the Seven Up kid. Whatever happens to him, if he ends up at Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, he will always be the same kid because he hasn’t got a big headed bone in his body.”
    ARRIVAL IN LONDON
    Carvalho moved to Elephant and Castle with his family when he first arrived in the UK from Portugal, having risen through the Benfica youth ranks. 
    Training with Balham on Clapham Common was a stark contrast to the breezy sea views, glossy tiled facades and red roofs of Lisbon.
    But it proved the perfect fit for the dynamic playmaker who stayed there for three-years. 
    Cruttwell added: “With all that happened on transfer day, it looked like he was going to go. Was he, wasn’t he and then it didn’t happen.
    “I know that he’ll be absolutely fine getting back into training hard. He’s very centred as a person.
    “He’s still the same when he plays for Fulham now as he was a kid, he just wants to play football.
    “He is able to block all the noise out and just play. All he wants is a kick about in the park.”
    PAPERWORK PROBLEM
    Liverpool were hashing out talks with Fulham over a move for Carvalho throughout Deadline Day. 
    After agreeing to their demands for the fee, a sell-on clause and loaning him back for the rest of this season, they failed to get the paperwork in before the 11pm cut off.
    That wasn’t the first-time Carvalho, who has hit eight goals and four assists this term, was in the middle of a transfer tussle. 
    Fulham were the first club to notice him but the big clubs came calling after he lit up a youth tournament in Guilford.
    Cruttwell added: “Scouts from Chelsea were there because they got wind that Fulham were interested.
    “They came in, then Arsenal and Manchester United flew from Carrington to meet me at a secondary school in Balham which was pretty surreal. 
    “Liverpool asked him to visit. It was a circus but from the outset he liked Fulham the best.
    “Fabio and his parents weren’t dazzled by the Disneyland spectacle of Cobham and Manchester United at Carrington. They saw the bigger picture.”

    The youngster once again turned heads on Saturday by grabbing an early goal in the 4-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City. 
    AC Milan are now keen to hijack Liverpool’s summer transfer plans when he becomes a free agent at the end of this campaign. 
    But Carvalho’s family have never pushed the starlet into moving to a megabucks club too early in his career. 
    Cruttwell said: “We handled the situation with Fulham for Fabio’s family because their English was pretty poor and they felt under a great deal of pressure.
    “They were loyal, wonderful people. We insisted Balham was part of any deal done with Fabio. We got a deal that I think no grassroots club has got before.
    “Fabio’s parents played a huge part in that. They didn’t want to jump ship immediately, they wanted Fabio to see out the season with us.”
    Carvalho was left frustrated with limited game time under former Whites boss Scott Parker last term.
    He instantly proved his worth by cracking in a goal on only his second Premier League appearance against Southampton in May last year.
    ‘THE HUMBLEST KID’
    Despite him blossoming into one of the world’s hottest young prospects – he hasn’t forgotten his roots. 
    He still watches Balham games at the Mayfield Stadium and catches up with pals who play at the club. 
    Cruttwell continued: “He’s the humblest kid. He’s just a special person who lights up the room. 
    “When he slaps your hand when he arrives anywhere, he is just amazing. And I could tell there was something magical about him immediately.
    “With a kid like him he doesn’t forget where he’s come from. 
    “He comes back to Balham games whenever he can and he knows some of the boys who progressed into the first-team. 
    “He had a cousin who was recently over here on trial with us so he’s still very connected to us.”
    Mitrovic waves and blows kiss to abusive Millwall fans as he boards Fulham team bus after scoring in win at The Den More

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    Neil Warnock, 73, could be latest veteran boss to return to management with Championship strugglers Barnsley’s keen

    NEIL WARNOCK is keen on a return to management — and on the radar of struggling Barnsley.The veteran boss, 73, thinks he has another challenge left in him after leaving Middlesbrough and is in no mood to retire.
    Neil WarnockCredit: Getty
    Fellow pensioner Roy Hodgson, 74, returned to football with Watford last week.
    Now Warnock could potentially be coaching again in the Championship.
    Barnsley are currently bottom of the league after 28 games and are eight points adrift of safety.
    Poya Asbaghi, 36, left Sweden’s U21 side to take charge of the Tykes in November.
    But he has failed to stop the rot at Oakwell and is under huge pressure.
    Sun Sport revealed last month that former club Cardiff and Bristol City were both interested.
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