Derby County accept new nine-point deduction after Championship club admitted breaking rules

Derby County are slapped with ANOTHER points deduction to all-but relegate them to League One, with Wayne Rooney’s men now docked a total of 21 points over their financial meltdown – and stuck on -3, 18 points from safety

Derby have been hit with a nine-point deduction with three points suspended
EFL statement confirmed the punishment and that decision had ‘been agreed’
Club remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship with mountain to climb
They have now all-but been relegated to League One and are on -3 points

By Will Griffee For Mailonline

Derby have been hit with a new nine-point deduction for breaking the EFL’s financial rules, taking their total penalty to minus 21 points this season.

The latest punishment effectively now all-but relegates the Rams to League One and currently sit rock bottom of the Championship with minus three points.

A statement from the EFL read: ‘The EFL has today confirmed that Derby County Football Club has received a nine-point sporting sanction with a further three points suspended after admitting to breaches of the League’s Profitability and Sustainability (P&S) rules.

Derby County have been hit with a further points deduction for breaking financial rules

‘This matter has been determined under the terms of an ‘Agreed Decision’ reached between the League and the Club and was formally ratified by an Independent Disciplinary Commission Chair as per the requirements of EFL Regulations.

‘The Club, via its Administrators, has also agreed, following last week’s adjournment, to the dismissal of its appeal against the 12-point deduction imposed as a consequence of the Club entering Administration in September 2021, meaning that the sanction continues to apply.

‘The new nine-point penalty has been applied immediately, resulting in the Club having been deducted a total of 21 points from this season’s 2021/22 Championship table.

The Rams, who are currently in administration, are bottom of the Championship

US businessman Chris Kirchner has announced his intention to buy Championship club Derby

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

In June 2021, an Independent Disciplinary Commission found in favour of the EFL in respect of its challenge to the Club’s policy on amortising player registrations.

The Club received a £100,000 penalty, a reprimand as to its future behaviour and ordered to submit revised accounts for the years ended 30 June 2016, 2017, and 2018.

The Club subsequently submitted summary financial information together with filings for all the outstanding periods to 2020/21.

Derby were issued with 12-point deduction imposed on 22 September 2021 after the Club entered Administration.

On 11 October 2021 administrators informed the League of their intention to appeal

The EFL and Club have agreed that in three out of the four reporting periods under consideration the Upper Loss Threshold of £39m had been breached by £7.76m, £11.72m and £1.96m respectively, resulting in the nine-point deduction and a further three points suspended

‘The suspended three-point deduction will take effect if the Club does not comply with the terms of the budget as set out in the ‘Agreed Decision’ for the remainder of season 2021/22.

‘Both decisions are now final and are not subject to any further rights of appeal under EFL Regulations.

Wayne Rooney’s side would be mid-table without their cumulative points deductions but now need a miraculous survival effort to stay in England’s second tier.

Prospective owner, US businessman Chris Kirchner, has attended games at Pride Park and has been praised by Rooney, though it is thought there are at least three other potentials buyers who are still showing interest.

Trevor Birch, EFL Chief Executive added: ‘The EFL’s objective throughout this ongoing process has been to ensure that the principles of the Regulations were upheld on behalf of all Clubs.

‘In order to assess the sporting sanction that was applicable to apply to these breaches, previous P&S cases have been carefully reviewed and guidance taken from them.

‘The EFL has also considered the P&S sanction guidelines as well as mitigation put forward by the Club.

‘Given the complex circumstances of the case and the various outstanding regulatory issues between the EFL and Derby County, the League is satisfied at the agreed outcome and the sensible approach taken by both parties in negotiating this outcome and in respect of the appeal withdrawal.

‘Our focus is to continue to work with the Joint Administrators to assist them in securing a long-term future for the Club.’

Derby are currently bottom of the league, but without the penalties would be mid-table

Carl Jackson, Quantuma Joint Administrator, concluded: ‘This has been a difficult matter to navigate bearing in mind the various issues concerned.

‘Whilst point deductions are never ideal for any club, it was critical to the club’s future that all matters were concluded between the EFL and the Club in relation to historical issues.

‘This conclusion allows us to proceed with our restructuring strategy for the Club with prospective interested parties.’

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