Mike Ashley feels Derby administrators don't want him to buy the club

Mike Ashley feels Derby County’s administrators ‘have made him feel like a pariah’ and do NOT want the former Newcastle owner to buy the crisis club

  • Mike Ashley believes Derby’s administrators do not want him to buy the club
  • The former Newcastle owner has rivalry from the US-based Binnie brothers 
  • The 57-year-old is said to be looking at alternative ventures in the EFL and cricket

Mike Ashley feels Derby’s administrators do not want him to buy the club and is considering investments elsewhere while their lack of co-operation persists.

The former Newcastle owner’s advisors have made no progress with administrators Quantuma in recent weeks and, as one source said: ‘He is stood at the gates with his cheque book but they’ve locked him out. They have made him feel like a pariah.’

However, with insiders casting doubt over the viability of rival interest from the US-based Binnie brothers and a consortium involving ex-Derby chairman Andy Appleby, were Ashley to walk away it would raise the question of who is going to rescue the debt-ridden club. Quantuma have failed to name a ‘preferred bidder’ despite saying they were close to doing so before Christmas.

Ex-Newcastle owner Mike Ashley feels Derby’s administrators do not want him to buy the club

Ashley – who sold Newcastle for £305million in October – is said to be looking at alternative ventures in the EFL, county cricket and The Hundred franchise.

A source added: ‘He wants to invest in something where he can make a difference, have a bit of fun and promote his brands. There are too many outstanding issues at Derby right now, but he can’t get any answers from the administrators anyway.’

Ashley would only buy Derby with Pride Park included – it currently belongs to former owner Mel Morris – and does not want to inherit a legal fight with Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, who has a compensation claim against the club. 

Ashley is said to be looking at alternative ventures in the EFL, county cricket and The Hundred

He has also noted that the sale of several young players has devalued the Rams.

The EFL last week called for all parties to convene in an effort to save Derby from liquidation, but Ashley is not part of that conversation.

Quantuma have told Sportsmail they treat all interested parties equally.




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