Wayne Rooney assures Derby fans club will exist after claims they face liquidation amid HMRC tax bill
WAYNE ROONEY has denied reports Derby County are going to be liquidated due to the tax bill they face from the HMRC.
The Rams went into administration back in September and have still not found a buyer to take over and deal with their £29.3million tax bill.
The Championship side have already been deducted 21 points for going into administration and breaching accounting rules – a penalty which leaves them 19 points from safety after just 20 games.
Derby have not been in the third tier since they were promoted into the Second Division 35 years ago.
And there are now reports they could be liquidated.
Yet despite the bleak situation, Rooney remains optimistic about the club’s future moving forward.
He said: “This club will exist. This club will grow.
“I’ve seen the headlines in the papers the last couple of days and that’s news to me. I don’t think there’s even an option of the club going into liquidation.
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“I know some of the staff, when they read that, get worried, but from my point of view there’s quite a few buyers who are very interested in the club.
“It’s not through lack of people wanting to come in and take over the club, it’s purely just getting it done, getting it over the line and there are details that need sorting out before that can happen.”
Ten days ago joint administrator Carl Jackson said they hoped to find an approved bidder within two to three weeks and that the takeover be finalised by the end of January.
And Rooney went on to suggest the club’s current state could be a chance to start again.
“This club will not go into liquidation,” he added. “A new owner will come in. We have had a setback but sometimes setbacks are good. It is a chance to restart and rebuild, which I feel this club has needed.
“This gives us the opportunity to do things in the right way and try to progress through hard work and determination, but also doing things properly, which I think is important.”
“I understand the frustration from the fans because obviously they don’t get every detail. But from all the discussions I’ve had, this club will be fine.”