Derby County’s administrators have made an appeal against their 12-points deduction to an independent panel, the EFL has said. The governing body handed Derby County the automatic punishment after Mel Morris placed the club into administration.
Derby County Appeal Points Deduction
Covid impact
The statement read: “The Administrators at Derby County have lodged an appeal against the 12-point deduction imposed on the Club’s 2021/22 season total on 22 September 2021.
“As a consequence, this matter has been referred to an independent Arbitration panel who will consider representations from both parties before making a determination.
“At this current time the Club’s points total in the Championship table will remain unchanged.”
The BBC reports that the administrators will argue the club has received an unfair punishment as their severe financial troubles is a result of the COVID pandemic.
Wigan Athletic argued on the same grounds when they were put into administration last year. However, their appeal failed because Au Yueng, their former owner, bought the club during the pandemic and it was ruled he understood the financial situation of that time.
Mel Morris’ ownership ended in a devastating fashion after he announced the club was losing somewhere between £1.3 million and £1.5 million per month. They are believed to have an estimated debt of at least £50 million, with £20 million being owed to HMRC.
Given the circumstance, Derby feels the appeal is worthwhile due to their chances of survival rising. One financial disparity between the Championship and League One is that the second division receives £4 million extra in solidarity payments.
On-Pitch Success
Of course, any successful appeal would give Wayne Rooney’s side an even greater uplift beyond the positive results they have had this season.
The troubling behind-the-scenes events have surprisingly had little effect on the squad. Without the 12-points deduction, which they have made an appeal against, Derby County would be sitting in 14th with 14 points and four points above the relegation zone. Instead, they are rock-bottom and seven points from safety.
One of the major reasons for their success is their defence, which is the best in the league. They have conceded just eight goals and kept five clean sheets in the league. The veteran centre-back pairing of Phil Jagielka and Curtis Davies has been an inspiration to Derby regardless of their combined age of 75.
Likewise, 34-year-old Richard Stearman, 30-year Graeme Shinnie and 32-year-old Craig Forsyth have all contributed their fair share alongside 20-year-old Lee Buchanan.
Most of all though, Rooney has delivered a competitive team. Expectations were limited after their form collapsed last season and they escaped relegation on the final day. Their squad development was hampered during the summer due to a transfer embargo and the overall financial position of the club.
More on Rooney’s stand during the crisis can be read here.
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