Rams on brink of takeover
SHEIKH IN ADVANCED TALKS AS PRIDE PARK DEAL IMMINENT
DERBY County are on the verge of being taken over – and the deal could be finalised as early next week
The Rams are understood to be in advanced talks with Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan, a Middle East businessman and senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.
Sheikh Khaled, 62, founded the Bin Zayed Group in 1988, and has interests in construction and energy, trading and industry, real estate, technology and financial services.
There are still details to be finalised and the Rams are awaiting approval from the English Football League. Owner and chairman Mel Morris, who bought the club outright in 2015, is expected to step aside should the deal go through, but he will be staying on, possibly in a consultancy role.
Sheikh Khaled has recently failed with high-profile bids for Liverpool and Newcastle United.
DERBY County are about to be taken over – and the deal could be finalised as early next week.
The Rams are in advanced talks with billionaire Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan, a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.
There are still details that need tio be finalised and the Rams are waiting for final approval from the English Football League (EFL).
Owner and chairman Mel Morris, who bought the club outright in 2015, is expected to step aside should the deal go through, but he will be staying on possibly in a consultancy role.
Sheikh Khaled has recently failed with high-profile bids for Liverpool and Newcastle United.
He is listed as a “person with significant control” within a new company called Derventio Holdings (UK) Limited.
Derventio Holdings (UK) Limited’s filing history shows it was registered at Companies House in September, with three directors: Midhat Kamil Kidwai, Andrew Obolensky and Christopher Samuelson.
Derventio was a Roman town that grew to become the modern city of Derby. Representatives of the new company are said to have attended Derby’s recent home against Watford Obolensky and Samuelson will not be involved should the takeover happen, the Derby Telegraph understands. Mr Morris has, for two years now, been consistent with his message when it comes to the future of Derby County Football Club.
He has made no secret of the fact he has been looking for new investment or would consider a takeover, but he has been firm in his mind on the criteria.
He has always maintained that any investment or takeover would have to be the “right fit” for Derby County, it would have to be in the “best interests” of the club.
This is why such a search was always likely to take time. Buying and selling football clubs can be a complex matter.
There has been plenty of interest in Derby County from Europe, the United States, Canada and the Far East at various points along the way.
Deals have been close in the past, but have not got over the line. Other interest has failed to get off the ground, disappearing as quickly as it arrived. Now it appears a takeover is close and could be completed as early as next week.