The takeover saga at Derby County rumbles on after Chris Kirchner withdrew his bid to buy the club.
The American had been courting the Pride Park outfit for months but after repeatedly missing deadlines to get a deal done, he has now killed off any lingering hopes. The club's administrators, Quantuma, who have been in situ since September 2021, are now concentrating on a clutch of other parties interested in buying the League One club.
A spokesperson on behalf of the joint administrators said: "We're aware some will be concerned by this news, however, the joint administrators wish to reassure the club's staff, players and supporters they are continuing to actively engage with a growing number of interested parties, each of whom have a real willingness to complete a deal as soon as possible."
The English Football League ( EFL ) had been critical over the weekend, saying they will "now be made a party to all correspondence and discussions between the administrators, and any and all potential bidders".
A further statement landed on Monday night in which the EFL said: "Following receipt of notification that Mr Kirchner has formally withdrawn from the process to purchase Derby County Football Club, the League reiterates its commitment, made over the weekend, to work proactively alongside the administrators of the club as they continue to engage with a number of interested parties, so that the objective of concluding a sale is achieved at the earliest possible opportunity."
It brings to an end Kirchner's pursuit of the East Midlands side, despite establishing a good rapport with manager Wayne Rooney and taking in countless home games last season.
Kirchner had been vocal on social media, too, engaging with fans and promising better times lie ahead. But the last few weeks saw his correspondence become less frequent amid worries over his ability to fund a deal.
Perhaps the biggest warning sign for Rams fans was when he refused to answer questions from the BBC over the hold-up, whilst playing in a pro-am golf tournament in the UK. Rather than front up, Kirchner simply said, "It’ll all come out soon," before waltzing away.
For Derby supporters, who saw their side put up a brave but ultimately unsuccessful fight against relegation last term, it is a case of deja vu. This is the third takeover to hit the buffers in the space of 18 months.
Back in March 2021, a protracted £60million takeover by Bin Zayed International (BZI), a Dubai-based consortium, was called off by then Derby chairman Mel Morris. Despite a takeover being announced in November 2020, four-and-a-half months passed without anything being officially signed off.
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Derby, who were battling near the bottom of the Championship at the time, ultimately secured their second tier status but only after a tense, last-day draw with drop rivals Sheffield Wednesday. In the midst of all that was another takeover saga involving Erik Alonso. The mysterious Spaniard appeared rather out of the blue, having previously been an advisor to Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri.
The boxing promoter and businessman was full of eye-catching quotes and promises, such as boldly claiming he wanted to take the Rams into the Champions League. But doubts began to emerge over his credibility and financial wealth, with one memorable episode seeing Alonso post a video of a plush apartment, only for social media experts to discover that he had seemingly duplicated a TikTok video of the same house.
Alonso then deleted his Twitter account and it wasn't long before the wheels came off his proposed deal, with the Spaniard vanishing back into obscurity almost as quickly as he emerged from it. That unsavoury episode preceded a tough summer for Derby, with administration and points deductions arriving shortly after the season began.
Kirchner arrived on the scene in late 2021 before appearing to move targets as he looked to purchase Championship rivals Preston North End. But a change of heart saw him return to Derby and despite plenty of PR and a charm offensive with Derby fans, ultimately he proved to be no different to the previous two suitors.
The identity of the club's next owner is still unknown, although ex-Newcastle supremo Mike Ashley continues to be linked with a deal. Whoever is in pole position to purchase the club, they will be acutely aware that the clock is ticking.
