A Government minister has called for urgent action to save Derby County Football Club after it went bust last year.
Culture minister Chris Philp has the English Football League (EFL) should work "rapidly" to resolve major issues that are preventing the club from finding a new buyer.
Derby went into administration last September and have been docked 21 points for breaching EFL financial rules.
The club, which plays in the Sky Be Championship and is managed by Wayne Rooney, is understood to be in talks with three potential buyers but has been unable to name a preferred bidder due to the threat of legal action against it by two other clubs.
Middlesbrough and Wycombe are both seeking compensation for loss of earnings they claim have been caused by Derby's financial transgressions. Because of this, the potential new owners are reluctant to commit themselves to the deal.
Derby's administrators have been given an extended deadline of February to provide details of how the club plans to fulfil its remaining fixtures for the season.
My Philp has said he wants the EFL to work quickly to find solutions for these problems and save the beleaguered club.
Responding to a question in the House of Commons, he said: “We do want to see the English Football League work urgently and pragmatically and rapidly to resolve these outstanding issues which are in the way of a takeover by a new owner, who we hope can invest the money needed to turn the club around.
“(Mr Huddleston) is pressing the English Football League very hard on these points and I’m sure he’ll do so again, and I’m sure the English Football League will be listening to our proceedings this afternoon and hear the message coming from this House and will act accordingly.”
He added: “The current situation is a worrying one for fans, the local community and football alike.
“No one wants to see one of the founding members of the Football League in administration and facing threats to its survival.”
Meanwhile, the EFL has said it is “keen to try and resolve the current impasse” and is reviewing submissions made by the relevant parties.
Mr Philps said that there were "obviously legal proceedings ongoing" but that it would be in "everybody's interests" to help the club survive.
