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      Arsenal still owed £8m by crisis club Derby for Krystian Bielik as desperate Rams step up search for new owner

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      DERBY COUNTY reportedly owe Arsenal an outstanding fee for the purchase of former Gunners midfielder Krystian Bielik.Telegraph Sport claims the Emirates giants are one of the Rams main creditors after the two sides made a deal over the sale of the player.
      Arsenal are still owed £8million by Derby in transfer fees for Krystian BielikCredit: PA:Press Association
      It is thought groups or individuals interested in purchasing the Pride Park club will have to take responsibility for its liabilities which is reported to be in the region of ‘tens of millions of pounds”
      And Derby, who play Swansea next, are claimed to still owe the Gunners £8m for Bielik who signed for the Rams in August 2019 when Philip Cocu was managing the team. 
      The Poland player, who has two senior international caps, joined Derby for a club-record fee reported to be worth up to £10m. 
      It is thought the agreement between the sides enabled the Rams to pay a small chunk of the transfer fee upfront with the rest of the cost to be paid in structured instalments. 
      However, the Telegraph reports that only £2million has been paid so far.
      It is claimed that any prospective owners interested in buying the Rams are expected to take on transfer fee payments owed to Arsenal. 

      Earlier this week Derby are reported to have axed the jobs of twenty staff with administrators overseeing cost-cutting measures at the Championships. 
      The BBC says jobs were cutting despite administrators hoping to obtain some-term funding next week. 
      This month it has been claimed the Rams were late paying one of their transfer instalments to Arsenal.
      This is thought to have resulted in the Football League temporarily adding a charge to their transfer embargo before the situation was remedied. 
      Reports claim the Gunners have been informed they will receive the transfer fees owed to them with the Rams’ administrators including the figure in financial negotiations with interested buyers. 
      Bielik, who made 15 Championship appearances for the Rams last term, is currently recovering from a knee injury. 
      The defensive midfielder’s injury is reported to be his second knee problem since joining Derby two years ago. 
      It is thought the Rams, who went into administration in September, also owe money to Polish outfit Lech Poznan for the purchase of winger Kamil Jozwiak. 
      And it is claimed the fee owed for the player takes Derby’s transfer fee ‘debts’ over  £10m. 
      The Poland winger joined the Rams for £4m in September 2020. 
      The Rams are reported to owe £26million to HM Revenues and CustomsCredit: PA
      Derby’s financial challenges include £26million owed to HM Revenues and Customs. 
      It is reported Phillip Cocu, who was sacked by the side in November, will not receive £5million owed in compensation to him following the club entering administration. 
      And it is thought the club’s administrators Quantuma has distributed marketing materials to groups and individuals interested in buying the Rams.

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      Wayne Rooney slams ‘disrespectful’ Derby owner Mel Morris for keeping him in dark as club entered administration More

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      Football fans set to be allowed to drink alcohol at their seats after 36-year ban if review recommendation is allowed

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      FOOTBALL FANS could be allowed to drink alcohol in STANDS in the near future following a fan-led government review.Supporters haven’t been allowed to enjoy booze while watching football since 1985 but a change in the rules is to be recommended.
      Fans are allowed to drink from their seats at cricket matchesCredit: Getty
      According to The Times, ex-sport minister and Conservative MP Tracey Crouch has completed an independent review of the matter.
      She is set to push for a pilot on serving alcohol at clubs in the National League and League Two with a view to extending it to a higher level.
      British football’s 36-year ban on alcohol being drank in stands was introduced in a bid to battle hooliganism.
      Other top European leagues allow supporters to enjoy a pint in their seats while they watch the action unfold.
      There is also no such ban in other British sports, such as cricket and rugby.
      Crouch believes the move could encourage fans not to binge drink before games and will generate much-needed revenue for lower-league clubs.

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      She told The Times: “Take a club like Dulwich Hamlet, which is in National League South. It’s revenue is generated through its refreshments.
      “If it gets promoted to the National League Premier, it effectively stops generating that revenue during a game.
      “They said openly in evidence to us that they cannot afford to get promoted because of the rules around alcohol.
      “Lots of clubs generate a lot of their income through their bars and I think it’s time to look at this issue again.

      “We do have this bizarre situation where you can go to Headingley and drink as a cricket fan, but go to Elland Road and you can’t drink as a football fan.
      “We kettle people into drinking quickly at half-time. And that is the unhealthy aspect of the football fan’s relationship with alcohol.
      “They drink a lot in a short space of time. So my recommendation is to pilot this and not have to down a pint at half-time.”
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      Peterborough striker Jonson Clarke-Harris, 27, hit with four-game ban and £5k fine for historic tweets nine years ago

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      PETERBOROUGH talisman Jonson Clarke-Harris will miss the next four matches after being banned for tweets he posted in 2012 and 2013.The striker, 27, has also been fined £5,300 by the FA, and will undergo a face-to-face education programme.
      Peterborough striker Jonson Clarke-Harris has been banned for four-matches
      The tweets in question referred to sexual orientation.
      Clarke-Harris was charged with breaching FA rule E3.1 and E3.2 in August.
      An FA spokesperson said: “Peterborough United FC’s Jonson Clarke-Harris has been suspended for four matches, fined £5,300 and is required to complete a face-to-face education programme after admitting six breaches of FA Rule E3 in relation to social media comments posted between 27 October 2012 and 6 March 2013.
      “The comments were insulting, abusive, improper and brought the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1.
      “The comments also constitute “an aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as they included reference to sexual orientation.
      “An independent Regulatory Commission was subsequently convened and imposed the above sanction during a paper hearing. Their written reasons will be published in due course.”

      The punishment means Clarke-Harris will miss key Posh games against Coventry, Bournemouth, Bristol City and Middlesbrough.
      Outspoken owner Darragh MacAnthony has not yet responded after briefly to reacting to the charge in August.
      He said previously: “Somebody, just after we won promotion, spent hours going through a then-18-year-old’s tweets to find stuff and then reported him. World we live in nowadays. More on this nearer time of hearing etc.”
      Peterborough are yet to comment publicly on the matter.
      Wayne Rooney slams ‘disrespectful’ Derby owner Mel Morris for keeping him in dark as club entered administration More

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      Chelsea icon Frank Lampard almost ‘pulled his phone out’ to sort transfers after seeing state of Derby dressing room

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      FRANK LAMPARD has revealed the extent to which he had to get his hands dirty to bring in players at Derby.The Chelsea legend was in charge at the Rams for a season before taking the reins at his beloved Blues.
      Lampard in the Derby hotseat before his move to ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Such was the state of the Derby squad in 2018 when Lampard met owner Mel Morris, he thought he was going to have to tap up some promising Chelsea youngsters ‘there and then’.
      Lampard told the All To Play For podcast: “When I went up to see Mel the first time after taking the job, we had all the players on the tactics board in the manager’s room.
      “(Andreas) Weimann was there, a good quick player with an eye for goal, then Mel said he’s off to Bristol.
      “Then (Matej) Vydra, one of the best players in the Championship the year before, Mel says he’s definitely going too.
      “I looked at it and thought I need to get a couple of loans in as soon as possible and nearly took my phone out there and then.”

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      The Chelsea connection eventually told as Lampard brought in the emerging Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori to inject some youth into his Derby side.
      He added: “Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Fikayo Tomori brought in a lot of energy and enthusiasm for us but I did also realise I underestimated the rest of the squad.
      “The likes of Nugent, Keogh, Bryson and Johnson, I found them all to be fantastic professionals and excellent players.”
      One of Lampard’s former England team-mates Wayne Rooney is now at the Derby helm as they face further challenges.
      The team have entered administration and been docked 12 points by the EFL, with club officials blaming Covid for ruining club finances.
      Chelsea’s Rudiger gets megged twice and Romelu Lukaku can’t stop laughing More

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      Wayne Rooney’s Derby players to be asked if they can have pay DELAYED amid club’s financial crisis

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      WAYNE ROONEY’S Derby players will be asked to accept a pay DELAY to help the crisis-stricken club.The Rams plunged from 12th to bottom of the Championship on minus two points on Wednesday — having been docked 12 points for entering administration.
      Derby boss Wayne Rooney has vowed to help his stars amid the crisisCredit: Rex
      Rams insiders revealed that funds are low at the bank after owner Mel Morris’ reign and it will be a major effort to cover  payroll for the next few months.
      Derby appointed administrators Quantuma to run the club as they try to find a buyer.
      A request will be made for the squad to allow the Rams to hold back a chunk of their salaries — around a third — rather than be paid in full at the end of the month.
      That will be a blow for the new faces in Rooney’s group, who signed on the maximum £4,500-a-week wage the club were allowed to pay under EFL restrictions.
      Some will see their salary temporarily reduced to around £3,000 a week in the first major cutback measure at Pride Park.
      The players may have no option but to accept this deferral plan, while Derby hope the EFL will also give it the green light rather than add a three-point penalty for late payments.
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      Overall the payroll saving would work out at around £400,000 a month.
      This money would be returned once a new buyer for the club is in place.
      Defender Curtis Davies, 36, reckons the players are lucky to have boss Rooney in this crisis.
      He said: “He’s a born winner. Obviously  it would be easy for him to walk away.
      Wayne didn’t need it in the summer when he couldn’t sign the players he wanted — but he’s willing to stand by us.Curtis Davies
      “But he’s in the meetings and he’s telling us, ‘I’ll stand in front of you, I’ll back you all the way. I’ll be the main one to take on any flak, any questions, whatever needs to be done.  I’ll be in the trenches with you’.
      “The biggest compliment you can give Wayne is he doesn’t need it.
      “He didn’t need it in the summer when he couldn’t sign the players he wanted — but he’s willing to stand by us. That shows how much he wants to succeed in management.”

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      Wayne Rooney reacts to the news Derby County is heading into administration More

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      Ex-Derby owner Mel Morris reveals he blew £200M trying to get club into Prem before putting them into administration

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      MEL MORRIS revealed he blew over £200MILLION trying to take Derby to the Premier League – before putting them into administration.Ex-owner Morris admitted his time was a ‘failure’ in his own eyes but also warned that football was running out of people like him willing to pay ‘£3m cheques every month’.
      Morris spent big in Derby’s pursuit of the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Morris opened up about his shock decision to put Wayne Rooney’s team into admin and said: “It is not something we entered into lightly.
      “There wasn’t a long-term sustainable position without a purchase.
      “I was going to run out of money completely, every asset I’ve got. You have got to pick a moment. And we have people interested.
      “I wanted to find a purchaser for the club and that continues. Over the weekend we had in the region of 15 inquiries. In terms of serious ones there are two or three, based on reputation, who are very serious.”
      Morris feels he came close to promotion a few times, a result that would have let him sell at a profit, before the latest crash came.
      He said: “I would have sooner tried and failed than not to try at all. But financially I regret it. I have lost in excess of £200m.

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      “I won’t make any recovery on the stadium, I will work with the administrators to make sure we get the right purchaser on board.
      “I put a lot of money into the club and we have had some really good times. But ultimately I failed.”
      Morris claims that a deal was close in January 2020 before the EFL queried the sale of the stadium and reveals others wanted to buy but did not produce the money.
      He warned: “It has been horrendous. At a time of Covid it’s impossible to understand the impact that has. Do I have £30m of revenue or £10m?
      “My biggest mistake was to say I would sell the club and not look to make a profit.
      “That gave me no room to negotiate. People would come in and wait and hope the price would change.
      Morris has praised manager Wayne Rooney for keeping the team competitiveCredit: Getty
      “We are running out of owners of football clubs who will write cheques for £1m, £2m or £3m every month.”
      Morris hailed boss Rooney for his efforts in the crisis and believes the club has a future.
      He said: “This is not the end for the club, it’s an opportunity to get a purchaser on board.
      “Wayne is turning out to be an absolutely first class manager. He deserves every credit from being a player who coached to someone who now looks like a boss and is spot on.
      “He is getting the best out of a lot of these players. He will be a major asset for this club. The Stoke City game was probably his finest moment.”
      Morris also blasted the EFL for treating Derby differently when it came to a potential points penalty for failing to pay their players – and the wrangle over their Financial Fair Play issues.
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby to be handed nine point deduction this season over FFP breaches sending them bottom of Championship More

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      Wayne Rooney found out on TV Derby were going into administration with Championship club facing 24 point deduction

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      DERBY boss Wayne Rooney says he found out the club were going into administration on TV.The club announced on Friday that they had to file notice to appoint administrators with a failure to identify new owners.
      Rooney praised his side for continuing to be ‘professional’ despite the financial mess off the pitchCredit: GETTY IMAGES
      The effects of the coronavirus pandemic left the club with ‘no choice’ but to go into administration.
      And boss Rooney, 35, said he and his players found out watching Sky Sports.
      He told Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s home match with Stoke: “I’ve seen it on Sky.
      “I spoke to (chief financial officer) Stephen Pearce after but initially I saw it on the TV.
      “I have spoken to Stephen, I haven’t spoken with Mel. I am sure he has got other things on his mind.
      “The players had no information and they saw it on Sky as well.”

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      And as SunSport’s Alan Nixon exclusively revealed, the club have to pay Rooney and his players in days or see their points deduction spiral to at least 24 points.
      The Rams already have a three-point suspended punishment for late payments last season.
      The suspended punishment could kick in if Derby fail to find funds to pay this month’s pay.
      And that would go on top of the 12-point penalty for going into administration.
      Further Financial Fair Play charges are likely to add another nine points, bringing the points deduction up to an eye watering 24.
      An emotional but defiant Rooney vowed to stand by the club, fans and his players.
      Speaking after Saturday’s match, which Derby won 2-1, Rooney said: “We’re in for a tough week, I know that.
      I spoke to (chief financial officer) Stephen Pearce after but initially I saw it on the TV. Wayne Rooney
      “But to see the players putting that effort in and getting the three points was massive, and I can’t stress how proud I am of them players for that performance today.
      “I have to keep doing my job, keep preparing the players, getting them ready and again we’re going to have some tough moments, I know that, I understand that.
      “But I can’t ask for anything more than what the players have given me and I think those players will get a lot of credit for the performance and the attitude today and they deserve that.”
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby to be handed nine point deduction this season over FFP breaches sending them bottom of Championship More