Several businesspeople ready to step in to prevent Derby liquidation

There are a number of "well-heeled" businesspeople ready to step in to prevent Derby County from being liquidated, Sky Sports News has been told.

Concerns over the club's future have mounted since Chris Kirchner, who exchanged contracts committing to buy the club, failed to transfer the necessary cash before Friday's 5pm deadline.

The EFL has now written to the administrators, expressing real concern that Derby will not be able to field a team next season, "risking the integrity of the competition", with the fixtures due out in less than two weeks.

League organisers have taken what is thought to be an unprecedented step, informing the administrators, Quantuma, that they must now be directly involved in negotiations with potential bidders for Derby.

It is understood Quantuma have seen proof of funds from at least five groups who still want to buy the club. They include Kirchner, former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and former Derby chairman Andy Appleby.

Sky Sports News has been told that while the priority is to complete a club takeover long before the fixtures are released, there is the potential for "back-up" funding to be made available for Derby to assemble a squad and fulfil their fixtures should that process be delayed.

Some officials are concerned that the EFL's plans to intervene in the administration process might be in breach of financial protocols, and jeopardise the confidentiality of the bidding process.

Kirchner is adamant he still intends to complete a deal to buy Derby despite missing several deadlines for the purchase money to be paid.

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