Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Derby County Football Club

28 June 2022 · 7 other contributors · 8,941 words

Opened by Pauline Latham Con Mid Derbyshire

Responding minister: Nigel Huddleston

Culture, Media & Sport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Pauline Latham raised concerns about derby county football club in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about Derby County Football Club's administration since September 2021, including missed deadlines and financial strain.
  • Chris Kirchner, the preferred bidder, withdrew after 65 days of exclusivity.
  • The minister commits to updating on holding Quantuma accountable and ensuring effective communication with fans during the sale process.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Sports Minister to update us on how to hold Quantuma accountable and ensure effective communication with fans during a sale process. I also request that the minister takes a close interest in ensuring that Derby's fans are represented as Clowes Developments Ltd is hopeful to finalise its deal by tomorrow.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Pauline Latham Con Mid Derbyshire

I am concerned about the administration of Derby County Football Club since September 2021, with nine months of pain and uncertainty for fans. Multiple deadlines set by administrators Quantuma and the English Football League were missed or delayed. The preferred bidder Chris Kirchner pulled out after 65 days of exclusivity, a period that could have been used to find more credible buyers. Derby now has only seven players contracted for next season, with challenges such as the transfer ban imposed by the EFL and financial strain from selling season tickets.

Other contributors (7)
  • Andrew Bridgen Con North West Leicestershire

    Mr Bridgen highlighted the historical issues with English Football League regulations, particularly the regulation change in 2016 that allowed clubs to sell their stadiums while adhering to financial fair play rules. He questioned why this loophole was not identified and addressed earlier by the league. Mr Bridgen also raised concerns about the football creditor rule, citing an example where legal claims against Derby County by Middlesbrough Football Club caused delays in club sale negotiations, leading to decreased value for creditors, including HMRC. He emphasised the need for learning from this painful process to prevent similar issues in the future.

  • Daniel Poulter Con Central Suffolk and North Ipswich

    He congratulated the lead MP on securing the debate, praised her efforts in championing Derby Town's needs, and asked for suggestions from the Minister to improve the administration process of football clubs.

  • Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington

    Jeff Smith expressed concern about the uncertainty and difficulties faced by Derby County fans, noting the club's importance to its community. He urged the Government to act quickly on implementing football governance recommendations from the fan-led review to safeguard clubs like Derby.

  • John Spellar Lab Warley

    He corrected Pauline Latham, stating it is Derby County not Derby Town. He agreed that the problem could happen to any club and addressed what can be done in later remarks.

  • Margaret Beckett Lab Warwick and Leamington

    She expressed sympathy for the Minister due to the extensive discussions during unfortunate events. Margaret highlighted the limitations of the existing legislative framework in handling such issues, emphasizing the lack of influence over administrators and the need for transparency regarding information.

  • Mark Fletcher Lab Wansbeck

    Mr Fletcher praised his colleague for her campaign efforts on behalf of Derby County fans and expressed concern over the prioritisation of fans by the EFL. He called for a new regulator as proposed in the fan-led review, highlighting financial security issues and poor ownership as recurring problems. Mr Fletcher also commended the Minister's involvement but urged progress on legislation to address the unsustainable position of football clubs.

  • Nigel Mills Con South Cambridgeshire

    The speaker is concerned about the financial instability of football clubs, particularly Derby County. He highlights issues such as reckless overspending by club owners and inadequate financial regulations despite the introduction of financial fair play rules. Nigel Mills suggests real-time monitoring and advance approval mechanisms to prevent situations where clubs rack up substantial debts.

Government Response

Nigel Huddleston

It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Mr Hollobone. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire (Mrs Latham) for securing this important debate on the administration of Derby County football club, and all participating MPs, stressing the time, attention and effort put in by Members like Maggie Throup, Amanda Solloway, Mrs Wheeler, and Mr Perkins. Football clubs are crucial to communities; match days bring pride and unity, impacting local economies and the wider football ecosystem. The Government supports the fan-led review of football governance and is working on a White Paper for wide-ranging reforms, acknowledging the complexity in implementing a regulator. Derby County's situation remains worrying with its administration threatening its survival. Wayne Rooney leaving early reflects the club's challenging times. While governance issues are primarily for the English Football League (EFL) and administrators, I have been receiving updates regularly, convening EFL, administrators, and MPs to discuss progress. Hon. Members' frustration over lack of updates will be communicated to stakeholders. The collapse of Chris Kirchner's bid was difficult but other interested parties remained. Clowes Developments has issued a loan for the 2022-23 season with hopes for a club purchase this week. Financial sustainability issues in football necessitate regulatory frameworks like those recommended by Tracey Crouch, focusing on financial sustainability and enhanced checks on funds and business plans. The Government is committed to reforming football governance via legislation, aiming for long-term, sustainable futures.

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