The takeover of Derby County has been plunged into doubt after a concerning report regarding Erik Alonso emerged.
What’s the latest?
According to the Daily Mail, complications have arisen in Alonso’s bid to purchase Derby from the current owner, Mel Morris, as the Spanish football agent intends to buy the club with money borrowed against Pride Park.
The attempt to secure the finances against Pride Park, as well as the length of time it takes to arrange a report on the value of Derby’s stadium, is reported to be the source of the delay in the takeover attempt – which had been agreed with Morris around a month ago.
However, the Daily Mail now claim that, because of these latest developments, the deal could head in a similar direction to the failed takeover attempt of Dubai-based Bin Zayed International.
Fans will be furious
Considering the miserable season that Derby have endured on the pitch, something that could still be made worst if the club lose to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, as the result would relegate the Rams to the third tier of English football, this latest development in the club’s proposed takeover is not likely to come as welcome news to fans.
Indeed, when taking into account the fact that Mel Morris agreed to sell the club a month ago, with the hope of a swift changeover to Alonso’s No Limits Sports Ltd, the amount of time that the deal has sat awaiting the EFL’s approval would not appear to bode well for the takeover.
However, it could be argued that, if Alonso does not actually possess the money to purchase the club in the first place, and instead needs to take a loan out on Pride Park to fund the takeover, he may not be the right person to be in charge of the club – as this would indicate he does not have funds readily available to invest in Derby County.
Either way, the news is certainly not good for the Derby fans who were hopeful of the club heading in a rather more positive direction under new ownership, and the future of the Rams now appears, once again, worryingly uncertain.
In other news: Rooney must avoid Derby swoop for 29 y/o flop who “plays like he’s on roller-skates” – opinion
