Derby County remain available for a potential takeover this summer despite the club recently suggesting that they are no longer on the market.
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, believes the Rams could still be sold if the right investor comes forward. His comments follow the collapse of Saudi billionaire Turki Alalshikh’s proposed takeover earlier this week, a development that reportedly caught Derby’s hierarchy by surprise.
Wyness said he feels “very sorry” for owner David Clowes, who has been unable to provide the level of financial backing required for a serious Premier League promotion push. However, he believes a “sensible investor” could still convince Clowes to sell in the coming months.
According to Wyness, legal representatives were still working on the Alalshikh deal as recently as last weekend, highlighting how quickly the proposed takeover fell apart.
“It’s a mess, and I feel very, very sorry for David Clowes,” Wyness said. He praised Clowes for rescuing the club following the problems under former owner Mel Morris but acknowledged that the financial demands of taking Derby forward have become significant.
Wyness also questioned the way Alalshikh’s withdrawal was handled, suggesting that the businessman should have been preparing for the season much earlier.
The takeover reportedly collapsed after Alalshikh became frustrated with the time taken by the independent football regulator to approve the deal. Although the regulator had up to 90 days to make a decision, approval was eventually granted after 55 days.
Wyness believes the approaching start of the season contributed to Alalshikh’s decision to walk away, but argued that the investor should have anticipated the process and planned accordingly.
