Derby facing twelve-point deduction after EFL battle

The points deduction would put them bottom of the Championship

Derby County are set to be handed a 12-point penalty after a year-long legal battle with the EFL.

The charges relate to a breach of final regulations, with the Rams having been charged – and cleared – in 2020. However, the EFL appealed part of the charge which led to a £100,000 fine in June.

As well as this, Derby were told that they had to re-submit three years’ worth of accounts.

The latest development in the complicated story surfaced on Wednesday, with the Mail reporting that Wayne Rooney’s side are set to be given a nine-point deduction this season, with a further three points suspended until the 2022/2023 campaign.

It is believed that an end to the saga is now in sight, with both the club and league expected to make an announcement later in the week.

The report reads: “Discussions over an agreed business plan remained ongoing on Wednesday night and agreement remained elusive.

“Sources disclosed there is a widespread belief the end is now in sight, with both club and league expecting to make an announcement later this week.”

If the charges are confirmed, it would be the latest of many hurdles that Rooney and his side will have had to overcome, with the Derbyshire outfit already under a transfer embargo that has limited the former England striker to signing just free transfers and loans.

Despite making somewhat of a decent start to their Championship campaign – taking seven points from seven games, including a draw against league leaders West Brom earlier this week – the nine-point penalty would see the Rams drop to the bottom of the table on minus-points.

Should the Rams be given the points deduction, it will evidently provide them with a mountain to climb this season. However, it would at least provide them with some sort of closure after what has been an extremely complicated year.

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