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The challenge of selling Derby County

 As the full scale of Derby County’s debt mountain becomes clear, doubts have been cast on the ability of a new buyer to take on the club’s post-administration debt burden. 

Owner-chairman Mel Morris put the Midlands club into administration earlier this month, and is understood to be prepared to walk away from £100 million of “soft” loans he is owed by the club and “hand back” Pride Park, which he owns separately.

An industry insider told offthepitch.com: “This could be a £70-80 million project to re-stablise the club. Billionaire owners will be likely be put off by the high risk nature of turnaround and local businessmen, supporters groups will not have means to do this.”

An insolvency practitioner commented: "The decision to delay administration after implementation of new HMRC rules could cost new buyer extra £20 million."

Derby owner-chairman says he will underwrite nine-figure soft loans and that “liabilities aren't a lot different to what the purchase price for a club with no debts will be.”

The administrators will have to sort the wheat from the chaff to get rid of bidders who have neither the financial means nor a serious intent to acquire the club.

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