Shock Mike Ashley 'curveball' thrown at Nottingham Forest rivals Derby after big announcement

Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley remains interested in buying Nottingham Forest's rivals Derby County, it has been claimed.

The Rams administrators named American businessman Chris Kirchner as their preferred bidder in a statement on Wednesday morning, with the logistics tycoon entering a period of exclusivity.

Forest fans reacted to the Kirchner news, though it may prove to be premature as he is not the only party still interested in buying Derby. TalkSPORT host Jim White has said that ex-Newcastle owner Ashley is still interested in doing a deal.

“I wonder if it will be Chris Kirchner in the end, because I can throw a curveball at you,” he said on the radio station. “Just before we came on air it is our understanding that although Kirchner has been named as preferred bidder, we understand here that Mike Ashley, who has expressed a strong interest in the club, this morning still maintains that strong interest. So he’s still in the mix.”

Reports last week claimed that Ashley was still "determined to complete a takeover" and was ready to "restart negotiations" with the club’s administrators over a potential purchase. He was chairman of Newcastle from 2007 to 2021.