Wayne Rooney's side could be docked points which would handicap them in their fight to stay in the Championship
08:55, 27 Aug 2021Updated 08:55, 27 Aug 2021
Derby County are considering whether to accept a heavy points deduction or challenge it, as they finally look to end their long-running battle with the EFL.
The Rams have been locked in a legal wrangle with the league for well over a year. The club were originally charged, in early 2020, with breaching spending rules but were later cleared.
However, the EFL appealed over the club's accounting policies and that resulted in a £100,000 fine this summer.
Derby were then forced to re-submit three years' worth of accounts with the deadline earlier this week. Derby and their legal team have this week been in further negotiations to try and thrash out an acceptable deal for both sides, according to the Telegraph.
The report claims the EFL are under pressure from other Championship clubs to come down hard on Derby and impose a 12-point deduction. That is a nine-point docking as well as a suspended three-points.
The report states: "The question now is whether Mel Morris, the Derby owner, reluctantly accepts the EFL’s proposed punishment or, as expected, challenges it. Derby have always maintained they did not seek any competitive advantage with their amortisation policy."
It goes on to add: "Both parties are keen to avoid another drawn-out legal battle which could go before another disciplinary commission."
Boss Wayne Rooney is already working with one hand tied behind his back, after an embargo was imposed on the club. It has limited Derby's transfer activity to being able only to sign free agents so far.
Despite a relatively decent start to the season - County have lost just once in four league games - a 12-point deduction could prove fatal to their hopes of beating the drop.
Sheffield Wednesday were given a similar punishment last term but it was later halved on appeal. Despite that, the Owls were still relegated, ironically on the final day of the season against Derby after a 3-3 draw which meant the Rams survived dropping into League One by the skin of their teeth.
The embargo's knock-on effect has meant Rooney has had to supplement his squad with youngsters which has presented him with an obvious problem.
Earlier this week, following a Carabao Cup loss at Sheffield United in which many of the under-23s featured, he said: "I think for the younger players who played the problem we have got now is where do they get the game-time now?
"We are out of the Carabao Cup. I can't risk them in the under-23s otherwise I can't fill my bench for first-team games.
"It is a problem, it is an issue, it needs looking at, it needs fixing, it needs taking care of.
"Hopefully that gets taken care of, but that is out of my control, really. All I can do is focus on the players I have got here and try and improve them, make them better players, and that's my job."
This weekend sees Rooney's side host arch rivals Nottingham Forest at Pride Park with both sides desperate for a win. As well as bragging rights, Forest are still looking for their first points of the season.
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