Derby County news: Wayne Rooney 'pushing and pushing' for new owners following Mel Morris agreement
- Planet Sport writer
- 11 February 2022
Both Derby County and Middlesbrough confirmed on Friday afternoon that an agreement had been made between former Rams owner Mel Morris and Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson.
The two clubs had been locked in a legal dispute, which was hindering Derby County from acquiring new owners.
However on Friday, both clubs announced that Gibson and Morris had reached an accord to settle the Teeside club's legal claim.
Derby were placed into administration last September and fans have seen their club just weeks away from liquidating.
As a direct result of private conversations between Mel Morris and Steve Gibson both parties are pleased to announce that they have reached an accord on a resolution of the claims... 👇https://t.co/vt0cy2bKLp
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) February 11, 2022
The news followed a lengthy statement released by Morris last Friday which invited Middlesbrough and Wycombe to take up their claims against him personally at the High Court.
Morris said such action would help Derby "move on for the benefit of the fans, the city of Derby, the sport and the EFL".
He added: "The claim has clearly been the source of much concern to both sets of fans, and especially those of Derby County.
"The fact that a resolution has been discussed and agreed should be comforting to both sets of supporters."
Such an agreement now opens up Derby to continue their sale of the club, which pleased Rams boss Wayne Rooney.
Rooney spoke to the media ahead of Derby's clash with Middlesbrough on Saturday, and welcomed the news with open arms, but encouraged administrators to ensure the new owner was the "right one".
"Obviously, that's been the main stumbling block in moving forward.
"I've been pushing and pushing about getting new owners in and this is a big step to allow that to happen.
"So now the next step is obviously the administrators engaging with the preferred bidders and getting the right one in."
