Hollywood megastar George Clooney is the latest name to hint that he's 'interested' in purchasing Derby County.
The Championship side have been in administration for over six months and are currently embroiled in a relegation battle after being docked 21 points over the course of the season. But despite that, Wayne Rooney's squad are still in with a fighting chance of survival -although they do have just seven games to overturn an eight-point deficit if they are to avoid slipping into League One.
Regardless of what division the Rams are in next year, the club are desperate for someone to rescue them from administration. And as a painstakingly tedious process nudges towards a conclusion, Clooney has dropped a subtle hint that he's interested in purchasing a club after his proposed takeover of Malaga fell through back in 2020.
Clooney, who lives in the UK with his wife, Amal, told Derbyshire Life: “Derby has a great football club with a fantastic history and I am sure there is a great future too. I know that there have been problems in recent times but nothing cannot be fixed and under the circumstances the team has been working really hard and playing well.
"It's obvious to me, looking on, that as well as the players on the pitch, the fans have played their part on the pitch too. My interest in soccer has certainly grown in recent years and a few years ago I was asked if I would like to be involved with a group of others looking to buy Malaga Football Club in Spain.
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"It was quite an exciting prospect but ultimately it fell through. Perhaps owning a football club is the next best thing to playing for one. Maybe, one day....”
Although Clooney's comments on the Rams may catch some people off-guard, the Oceans 11 star was introduced to the club by Derby-born actor Jack O'Connell. After bombarding O'Connell - a lifelong Rams fan - with questions back in 2016, Clooney admits that he has been "watching ever since".
And the 60-year-old's passion for the English game has fuelled his interest in following in the footsteps of fellow Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who wrapped up a blockbuster takeover of their own last year when they snapped up National League side Wrexham.
Clooney's comments have been welcomed by Derbyshire MP, Nigel Mills. With the Rams facing up to the previously unthinkable prospect of plying in their trade in the third tier next year, securing a new, stable ownership before the end of the season is imperative for the club's long-term survival.
Although various parties, such as former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and ex-Rams chairman Michael Appleby, have flirted around a deal for the club, administrators Quantuma are still yet to name a preferred bidder.
And Mills has now urged Clooney to gazump that interest by getting in touch with administrators to save the club. He said: “Wow, we’re absolutely desperate for a new owner so this would be superb. It would be fantastic for the local economy and bring in millions. It would raise the profile enormously. I hope he can get in touch with the administrators. It would be tremendous.”
