Management at Middlesbrough FC and Wycombe Wanderers say they are ready and waiting to join talks to discuss their legal claims against Derby County.
Boro and Wycombe say they are owed millions in compensation over allegations of Derby breaching Football League rules.
The EFL has now agreed both Boro and Wycombe should be paid along with other creditors.
The Rams have been in administration since the autumn with potential deals to find new owners on hold – and the club has only been given until the end of the month to show it has the cash to keep going.
The EFL said Derby County had tried to use insolvency legislation to avoid having to defend the claims of Middlesbrough (which it said started in January 2021) and Wycombe.
It said: “Derby County considers those claims should not be treated as football related debts and that it would be wrong for the EFL to require the club to have to continue to defend the claims....
“The EFL does not agree with that analysis.”
It added: “It is now for the administrators to determine how they wish to move this matter forward and we remain willing to expedite any process, as necessary.
“The EFL has previously requested mediation between the two clubs and the administrators and is today inviting all relevant and associated parties involved to enter formal collaborative negotiations to actively seek out the compromises and solutions required to ensure that Derby County has a long-term future.”
Middlesbrough said it welcomed the EFL’s stance and its management was ready to join any meeting with the administrators along with the main bidders for Derby; representatives from Wycombe; former Derby owner Mel Morris; MSD Partners – who invested in Derby – and HMRC.
Wycombe Wanderers chairman Rob Couhig said he was also keen to enter into negotiations with Derby’s administrators.
He said: “As soon as I am told when and where the mediation will take place, I will fly back to the UK and personally attend."
