Ex-Derby chairman Andy Appleby launches takeover bid to save club after Chris Kirchner pulls out

FORMER Derby County chairman Andy Appleby has tabled a bid to buy the club after American businessman Chris Kirchner pulled out.

Kirchner did not make Friday’s deadline to buy Derby, despite having loaned £1.6million to help cover running costs and wages.

The proof of funds for the takeover were meant to be submitted by 5pm.

Funds failed to transfer from America, raising questions as to why he was named as the preferred bidder earlier this year.

And now other interested parties can make their case.

According to the Telegraph, former chairman Appleby has tabled a bid to buy the club.

Appleby’s consortium, Global Sports Worldwide, are rivalling former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and Steve Morgan in the race to save Derby from liquidation.

The report states the bid is “highly competitive” and has been submitted to administrators Quantuma.

Appleby’s attempt to buy the club is focusing solely on the purchase of the club and is separate to a deal on the Pride Park Stadium.

Former owner Mel Morris still owns the ground and discussions on the stadium are still ongoing.

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Derby are in a race against time with the 2022-23 fixtures to be announced next week.

Players are growing concerned with the situation, according to former player Curtis Davies.

Davies told : “I’ve spoken to a couple of players and it’s the same message.

“We’re getting most of our information from social media and news outlets and we’re all waiting to see what’s happening.

“Ultimately when you see reports like this [the 5pm Friday deadline], it doesn’t look positive for the current takeover.”

He added: “I’m extremely concerned because if you’re a fan sitting at home and you’re reading the reports and you hear that a player is reading those same reports to get his information, then you’d have to be worried.

“You’d be silly not to be worried.”