Mike Ashley will not be taking over at Championship side Derby County after administrators accepted a bid from Chris Kirchner to buy the club. The Rams have been in administration for seven months and are fighting for their lives to avoid relegation.
The former Newcastle United owner had been linked with a return to football, just months after selling up at St. James' Park. Kirchner will now enter a period of exclusivity but a deal is not yet completed.
There is a slim chance Ashley could still take over at the club, if talks between the Rams and Kirchner fall through. The group will now have to enter talks with former Derby owner Mel Morris for the lease of Pride Park.
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A statement from the joint administrators read: "Following a rigorous and well documented marketing process, the joint-administrators of Derby County Football Club have accepted and offer from Chris Kirchner to buy Derby County out of administration. It follows the receipt of a recent bid for the club.
"The bid is to purchase the football club only with the club's ongoing occupation of Pride Park Stadium to be negotiated with external stakeholders."
