DERBY DAYS
When Festy Ebosele rejected the opportunity to sign for Nottingham Forest last week, Derby County supporters probably thought they couldn’t love the youngster more. The right-sided teenage speedster was the subject of a £500,000 bid from the Rams’ most bitter rivals but is widely reported to have baulked at the notion of further demoralising a fanbase already in despair at the prospect of not having anything to support unless a buyer for what’s left of their club after years of financial mismanagement can be found in the not-too-distant future. While Derby could certainly do with £500,000, Ebosele’s tender years mean whoever signs him next may have to pay a good deal more in compensation. Little victories are important and it’s a big win for the Rams that he chose not to move down the road.
What with points deductions, administration and being eight points adrift of safety, it’s been a bleak old year for Derby fans, so much so that one of few current silver linings in the massive black cloud hovering over Pride Park is the prospect of a potential rescue by former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley. Mike Ashley! But on Wednesday night, for an hour or so, Ebosele rode to the rescue once again. Contacted by one supporter who had hoped to get an autograph for young daughter Bella from her favourite player, the Irishman travelled to Mansfield to surprise her at football training, chat to her at length, present her with a shirt and pose for pictures along with his dog. A pooch, incidentally, The Fiver couldn’t help but notice bears a passing resemblance to something you might more usually see perched on BoJo-loyalist and Tory MP Michael Fabricant’s head. “This is why Derby have to survive,” wrote Bella’s dad Dave. “This guy is only 19 but he is the kindest person and made Bella feel like a million dollars.”
In need of a buyer willing to spend up to a hundred times that amount – the thick end of £70m – to save a football club that doesn’t own a stadium (and potentially ruinous legal claims from Middlesbrough and Wycombe should they go to court), Derby could have gone to the wall next week. But earlier on Thursday, they learned they have been given a deadline extension of one month to show they can stay afloat financially for the rest of the season. “Today’s development will allow the club to meet its ongoing obligations whilst giving a further four weeks to continue the discussions with the interested bidders and relevant stakeholders in respect of a sale,” droned a statement from their administrators and the Football League.
The extra month will give Derby time to address the £29m they owe in taxes and it has been reported they have had positive talks with Her Majesty’s bean-counters over an agreement to pay significantly less than that amount. With the Inland Revenue not generally renowned for their charity and mercy, The Fiver can only conclude that Wayne Rooney must have sent Ebosele to have a quiet word.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I pay tribute to all those that have worked so hard to get to this point” – Sunderland Central MP, Julie Elliott, after it was revealed that professional female footballers in England are to finally benefit from maternity and long-term sickness cover, in a landmark change to their contracts.
FIVER LETTER
“Has The Fiver and Big Website not received the memo that this is the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 and not 2022? Of course, you can call it Afcon Not 2021 in the tradition of the Euros” – Ron Kondowe.
Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Ron Kondowe.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Football Weekly Extra focuses on the African Cup of Nations stadium tragedy.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Australia are a step closer to the Human Rights World Cup after their flamin’ 4-0 win over Vietnam in qualifying.
Egypt will face Morocco in the Afcon Not 2021 last eight after Mo Salah’s shoot-out penalty took them past Ivory Coast.
Beth England now has 50 WSL goals after scoring in Chelsea’s 2-0 victory against West Ham.
The Pope’s Newc O’Rangers remain four points clear of the Queen’s Celtic in the Scottish Premiership after Scott Arfield’s late goal against Livingston; Ange Postecoglu’s side survived a late fightback to see off Hearts.
John Terry is an NFT bro, of course he is, and the Premier League is taking legal action over his use of its trophies as part of whatever ape-based business it is he’s offering. Chelsea are doing likewise as regards his use of their badge (which represents something of a sea-change).
Speaking of Monchi, Sevilla have pulled the plug on talks with Newcastle over Diego Carlos. “The offer was very important, respectful, but it was an offer that our board considered insufficient,” he tooted.
One of the oddest transfers in recent memory is taking another turn: Manchester United are loaning Amad Diallo to the Pope’s Newc O’Rangers.
And, curiously, Adama Traoré is less than thrilled with the prospect of becoming the next Victor Moses, so his mooted move to Spurs might be off in favour of one to Barcelona.
STILL WANT MORE?
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we should commit to ridding football of antisemitism, write Simon Taylor and Dr Kathrin Meyer.
Max Rushden reckons we should spend less time whining about decisions and more time enjoying actual football; it’ll never catch on.
It’s one deadline day: get all the latest women’s football deals, plus the men’s moves in the run-up to their Monday deadline.
Five things out for which to look in the upcoming Concacaf qualifiers for the HR World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Canadians are coming and Jacob Steinberg has been getting his chat on with one of their stars.
And if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO!
