Middlesbrough chief Gibson will accept ‘realistic’ offer to settle £45m Derby compensaton claim after FFP ‘cheating’
STEVE GIBSON is ready to broker a peace deal with Derby to settle Middlesbrough’s £45million compensation claim.
Gibson confirmed he has put in a compensation claim for the Rams 'cheating' the Financial Fair Play rules - valued at a staggering £45m.
But he is now willing to accept a “realistic” offer to prevent Derby going into liquidation.
Gibson launched his legal action back in May 2019 after Derby pipped them to the final play-off spot in the Championship.
Wycombe also took action at the end of the following season when they were relegated and Derby narrowly stayed up.
Derby sold Pride Park for £81m to a subsidiary belonging to ex-owner Mel Morris that allowed them to avoid a loss under FFP rules.
Gibson’s club put out a damning statement but left an olive branch when they said: “Middlesbrough has made clear it does not wish to see Derby fall into liquidation.
“Middlesbrough is happy to be realistic in its expectations in order for Derby to exit administration.
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“But it is up to the administrators or new owner to put a firm and realistic proposal forward.
“Or merely agree Middlesbrough’s claim, when finally determined, will be met in full by the new owners.
“In simple terms so far as Middlesbrough is concerned, had Derby not cheated, Middlesbrough would have been in the play-offs.
“Derby did cheat and as a result Middlesbrough lost the opportunities that arise as a result of that.”
The £45m sum is putting off buyers who need to save Derby from being kicked out of the EFL next month if they fail to find the funds to finish the season.
Wycombe chairman Rob Couhig is also ready to strike a deal over their own compensation claim.
He said: “I’m willing to talk as there is a finite amount of money available before a prospective bidder says, ‘It’s too much — I’m not interested’.
“We have a much better chance of prevailing than losing but nobody wants to kill off a fellow club.”
Yesterday, the Rams’ desperate plight was even raised in the House of Commons.
Culture minister Chris Philp said: “We want to see the English Football League work urgently to resolve these issues.
“The situation is a worrying one for fans, the local community and football alike.
“No one wants to see one of the founding members of the Football League in administration and facing threats to its survival.”
Conservative MP Damian Collins added: “A failure of football governance created the problem at Derby.
“Once again, it is fans who see in this crisis no one is interested in their concerns.
“Or the long-term future of the club and the impact this will have on the people of Derby.
“If the EFL had enforced its own financial rules effectively, this would not have happened. Yet, it is the EFL’s own rules that will trigger Derby’s expulsion from the league.”
Wayne Rooney’s heroic work in making Derby genuine contenders to stay up, despite a 21-point rap, could all be wiped out next month.
That is if there are not enough funds — around £7m — to last the rest of this campaign.
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Derby could raise cash, possibly from American financiers MSD Holdings, to protect their existing interests as they would be left with a stadium and no team playing in it.
That would add to the total bill to be settled but it does increase the time to find a buyer to save them.
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