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New threat to Rams

It is being reported that the English Football League (EFL) have won an appeal relating to a Financial Fair Play charge brought against the Derby County in January last year regarding how the club amortises a player's contract.

That was one of two charges put to the club, the other relating to the sale of Pride Park Stadium.

The Rams were cleared of both charges and the EFL did not appeal the stadium charge, choosing only to fight the amortisation one.

There has been some speculation that the Rams could still be relegated after a points deduction.  However, I think it is unlikely that a deduction would be applied retrospectively to the 2020/21 season, although a points deduction next season is possible.

Wycombe Wanderers, who finished one point and one place below Wayne Rooney’s team and were relegated, are considering the option of legal action to see if the EFL’s pursuit of Derby over alleged breaches of financial fair play (FFP) has been exhausted, reports Michael Walker.

“We have an obligation to our fans, players and coaches to look at everything and go from there,” Rob Couhig, owner of Wycombe, told The Athletic after his team won 3-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday. Couhig was at the game but immediately flew back to his base in New Orleans.

Couhig was non-committal about what might happen next in terms of a possible legal challenge but later a club spokesman added: “We’re probably going to get advice, whether it’s from a QC or whether it’s from people in the EFL as to exactly what the status is and what the possible ramifications are."

Clubs often consider or threaten legal action, but pursue it less often after taking advice.


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