‘It’s very disappointing’ – Exclusive: Former Derby County boss makes big claim about Rams’ current priorities | OneFootball

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Football League World

·18 June 2021

‘It’s very disappointing’ – Exclusive: Former Derby County boss makes big claim about Rams’ current priorities

Article image:‘It’s very disappointing’ – Exclusive: Former Derby County boss makes big claim about Rams’ current priorities

Football has become a secondary importance to finding an owner who can run the club properly for Derby County, the Rams former boss Paul Jewell has exclusively told Football League World.

The 2020/21 season was a challenging one on the pitch for Derby, as they only avoided relegation from the Championship on the final day of the season.


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However, the past season was just as, if not more, tumultuous of it for the Rams, amid uncertainty around the club’s long-term future.

Not one but two takeovers of the club fell through, with proposed purchases of the club by Sheikh Khaled’s Derventio Holdings and then Erik Alonso’s No Limit Sports Limited both failing to materialise.

That has left current Derby owner Mel Morris still looking for a new buyer, amid suggestions the Rams could face a points deduction next season due to their financial situation.

Now it seems as Jewell, who managed Derby for 13 months between November 2007 and December 2008, believes that securing a new owner for the club is more important for the Rams, than on-pitch results.

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Article image:‘It’s very disappointing’ – Exclusive: Former Derby County boss makes big claim about Rams’ current priorities

Speaking about the impact that that second failed takeover will have had on Derby, Jewell told Football League World: “It’s very disappointing because I know what a huge club Derby is, and what a terrific football club it is.

“I worked there for a short period time of time and people are just so honest, and supporters just want the club to be run properly, and I’m not saying Mel Morris hasn’t run it properly because he’s put a lot of money into it.

“But it’s been like one minute there’s a takeover then there’s not a takeover and they’re worried about the debt. A football club of that magnitude, the support just wants it to be run properly, and openly and transparent, and I’m sure that’s all he wants.

“The team, it’s almost secondary at the minute. They just want their football club. Whoever’s going to own it, let them hopefully run it properly and try and get back in the Premier League.”

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