Prospective buyers of Nottingham Forest's arch-rivals Derby County have been reportedly put off by the price of Pride Park as further claims about the club's sale were made today.
According to the Daily Mail, potential purchasers of the crisis-hit Rams have said the cost of the stadium has proved a major sticking point as it takes the amount of a deal for the club to more than £50m.
Former chairman Mel Morris owns Pride Park after the club sold its stadium to a company he owned during his reign which he then leased to the Rams.
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And that means any purchaser would have to do a deal with him separate from what they would have to pay for the club itself with Morris having a loan of £20m secured against the ground.
The Mail reports that is proving a headache for would-be buyers although in the report they say sources close to Morris say it should not be considered a barrier to any sale because it is available for a knockdown price given it is valued at £80m.
Even if a deal cannot be struck for the stadium as part of any sale process, Morris would be prepared to lease it to the new owner.
However, those interested in buying the club also want the ground as part of the package given the size of the investment they would be making. But according to the Mail they could not make the numbers work unless the price of the stadium was reduced.
"At the end of the day they are asking £50M and it is not what it is worth,’" said one party as reported by the Mail.
"If you had to pay £30M for Derby in League One with the ground, people would do it, but at £50M people would not do it. This anchor of £22M for the stadium is not allowing this to move."
Derby fans are hoping that a preferred bidder will be named this week after a deadline for bids was set last Friday with three offers reportedly having been submitted.
The club has been in administration since September and has interested former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley who is still thought to be keen on securing a deal.
The options on the table are that any would-be buyer would pay for the club and then rent the ground from Morris or try to come up with a package that would also secure them the stadium.
There is also the threat of a 15-point deduction if a deal does not meet the EFL's insolvency rules. Football creditors have to be paid in full after any deal, but HMRC could be paid at a preferential rate in accordance with the law.
However, they could refuse to pay other creditors 25p in the pound which although would reduce the purchase price, it would be in breach of the EFL rules and would incur a 15-point penalty.
