Derby’s three manufacturing giants – Alstom, Rolls-Royce and Toyota – have given their backing to a campaign to save Derby County Football Club.
The Rams went into administration last autumn and attempts to find a new owner have been recently hampered by financial claims against the club from Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers.
Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is understood to be interested while Carlisle Capital, a US investment firm, has reportedly lodged a £28 million bid to buy the club.
The Carlisle Capital bid is reported to have made fully in the knowledge that the club could face additional liabilities if one or both of the claims against Derby from Middlesbrough and Wycombe are successful.
It is understood a consortium put together by General Sports Worldwide (GSW) is also in the frame, and that that group is prepared to also buy Pride Park from the club’s former owner and chairman Mel Morris and take on any liabilities arising from the other clubs' claims.
The English Football League (the EFL) has given the club until next month to prove it has the resources to finish the season.
In more upbeat news on Monday the league said it had put back a meeting with administrators Quantuma by 24 hours “following positive developments over the course of the weekend".
It said: "It is now expected that the league and the administrators will sit down in the next 24 hours as we seek to resolve the outstanding issues to the satisfaction of all parties.”
Last week club backers including Marketing Derby, Derby City Council and local MPs established a new group called Team Derby to work with Quantuma and the league to find a solution.
The city's three big industrial giants have also come out in support.
In a statement Rolls-Royce said: “Rolls-Royce has been based in Derby for more than a century and generations of our employees have passionately supported Derby County Football Club.
“Today, we share the concern of all fans over the fate of Derby County and support efforts to ensure its survival.
“We are continuing to follow developments and Team Derby’s work to ensure the club can continue to be a cornerstone of our community.”
Meanwhile Alstom, which has its train-building site in Litchurch Lane, said: “Derby County is of huge importance to the city and to many of us personally at Alstom.
“We support all efforts to ensure the club has a bright future.”
And Toyota said: “Toyota has been proud to be a Derby County sponsor over the past 30 years. We are incredibly supportive of the team and all the personnel that work there to make each match a fantastic event.
“We realise that Derby County is extremely important to our members and the city as a whole and that they are a keystone within the local community, not only through the club but also through the community work that they carry out.
“We sincerely hope that the current situation can be resolved quickly and that their focus can get back onto the field.”
John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “Since the campaign was launched last week, the future of Derby County has become a national story attracting tremendous support from across the UK.
“This week, we focus on the solutions.
“Team Derby will continue to put pressure on all the key players, including the administrators and the EFL, to find a solution and we will hope to meet the preferred bidders to give them confidence that investing in the club and in the wider community will be one of the most exciting deals they will ever have done."
