Derby: Mel Morris and Steve Gibson FINALLY reach an agreement over legal claim

Derby have announced they have reached an accord between their former owner Mel Morris and Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson in relation to the Teesside club’s legal claim against the Rams.

Derby were placed into administration last September and the sale of the club to new ownership has been complicated in part by the claims of Middlesbrough and Wycombe.

The club said details of the accord between Morris and Gibson had been shared with administrators Quantuma ahead of the sides’ meeting in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.

News of the accord follows the release of a lengthy statement by Morris issued last Friday which included an invitation to Boro and Wycombe to take up their claims against him personally at the High Court.

Morris said this would allow his old club to ‘move on for the benefit of the fans, the city of Derby, the sport and the EFL’.

Details of the accord were not released, but Derby’s statement said Morris and Gibson had been keen to develop it ahead of Saturday’s game at the Riverside Stadium.

‘The claim has clearly been the source of much concern to both sets of fans, and especially those of Derby County,’ the statement said.

Former Derby County owner Mel Morris invited Boro and Wycombe Wanderers to take their claims to the High Court against him personally

Middlesbrough chairman and owner Steve Gibson claims Derby County cost his club the chance of promotion because of financial rule breaches and former Rams owner Mel Morris invited Boro and Wycombe Wanderers to take their claims to the High Court against him personally

‘The fact that a resolution has been discussed and agreed should be comforting to both sets of supporters.’

The statement added: ‘However, it is important for all interested parties, including potential bidders, to be confident that the Middlesbrough claim will not be an impediment to Derby progressing its plans for a sale of the club.’

Administrator Carl Jackson added: ‘We are pleased to see that an acceptable resolution has been identified which allows us to push forward with our plans for the sale of the club.’ 

Derby boss Wayne Rooney welcomed news of the accord and said: ‘Obviously, that’s been the main stumbling block in moving forward.

‘I’ve been pushing and pushing about getting new owners in and this is a big step to allow that to happen.

‘So now the next step is obviously the administrators engaging with the preferred bidders and getting the right one in.’

Sportsmail revealed earlier on Friday that Morris and Gibson had finally opened talks over Boro’s legal claim against the Rams.  

Derby County have mounted a spirited comeback after being deducted 21 points this season

Derby County have mounted a spirited comeback after being deducted 21 points this season

Security was heightened for the sides’ fixture, after the status of the game was raised to the highest risk level amid fears that emotions could spill over.

The Rams have been in administration since September. There are three interested parties waiting to step in as the preferred bidder, but they were unwilling to do so while a £40million claim by Middlesbrough and £6m claim from Wycombe remained unresolved.

Tensions have been high among Rams fans, who consider Middlesbrough’s position as the biggest threat to their club’s survival. Derby have sold their allocation of 2,131 tickets for the Riverside and sensibly Derby supporters are urging each other to moderate their behaviour before, during and after the game. The vast majority are determined to hold on to the moral high ground as they campaign to save their club.

A week ago, Morris invited Middlesbrough and Wycombe to take their compensation claims to the High Court against him personally.

Off the pitch, Derby fans have rallied to the cause and campaigned for their club to be saved

Off the pitch, Derby fans have rallied to the cause and campaigned for their club to be saved

Morris’ intervention raised hopes that the blockage would be removed and the process of bringing Derby out of administration could begin in earnest.

However, since then fans have been left in limbo – again. But sources involved in efforts to save Derby County told Sportsmail talks have been ongoing this week.

‘Gibson and Morris are talking,’ said one. ‘Everyone is aware there is a big game on at Middlesbrough. If it is going to be sorted it would be good to sort it before then.

‘With the game coming up there is some hope a conclusion might be reached to move the process on.

‘Nothing can happen on preferred bidders until Middlesbrough is sorted.’

Derby suffered a setback when they lost to rivals Nottingham Forest, but are back to winning ways after a 3-1 victory over Hull City this week

Derby suffered a setback when they lost to rivals Nottingham Forest, but are back to winning ways after a 3-1 victory over Hull City this week

Fans estimate 10,000 supporters marched to Pride Park ahead of the Birmingham game

Fans estimate 10,000 supporters marched to Pride Park ahead of the Birmingham game 

Under Morris’ leadership Derby racked up huge debts and breached EFL financial rules in a desperate bid to reach the Premier League.

The Rams have been punished with a 21-point reduction for both going into administration and breaking the rules.

However, Boro and Wycombe claimed they lost out on the play-offs and surviving relegation due to Derby’s financial rule breaches.

Derby County's players and fans have been waiting for news of progress all week

Derby County’s players and fans have been waiting for news of progress all week

Derby County and Middlesbrough drew 0-0 when the two clubs met at Pride Park in August

Derby County and Middlesbrough drew 0-0 when the two clubs met at Pride Park in August

The EFL told Derby’s administrators both claims must be treated as ‘football-related debts’, which meant if proven they have to be paid in full. The parties interested in buying Derby, which includes former chairman Andy Appleby, the wealthy, US-based Binnie family and former Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, are not prepared to proceed in those circumstances. 

Meanwhile, Derbyshire Police will send two football liaison officers to Teesside on Saturday, which is in line with usual procedures.

The Telegraph reported security and policing will be beefed up inside the stadium. And Boro have ensured all seats behind the director’s box in the West Stand, where Gibson will be sat, are only available to home supporters with a previous booking history in an effort to protect the club’s owner from abuse at close quarters.

Derby currently sit in 23rd position in the Championship, four points from safety. Middlesbrough are in seventh, level on points with Nottingham Forest, who are sixth.