Derby takeover edges nearer to completion as Rooney interim successor is announced

The Rams made the announcement shortly after appointing Liam Rosenior as Wayne Rooney's successor on an interim basis.

A statement from joint administrators Quantuma then confirmed local property developer Clowes had been granted preferred bidder status, with the aim being to complete a takeover by Wednesday.

On Friday the joint administrators had announced Clowes Developments Ltd had purchased Pride Park, issued an interim loan to the club, and would be submitting a bid to buy them.

And a spokesperson for Quantuma said in a statement on Sunday: "Over the course of the last day or so, the joint administrators have continued positive discussions with Derbyshire based property group Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd which resulted in a credible and acceptable offer being submitted.

"Discussions in respect of this offer, which complies with the EFL Insolvency Policy, have taken place with a range of stakeholders.

"The joint administrators are delighted to confirm that they have formally accepted Clowes' offer to acquire Derby County Football Club out of administration. Clowes has been granted preferred bidder status with immediate effect. The joint administrators will now enter into a period of exclusivity with Clowes, with a completion of the acquisition of the business and the assets of the club targeted for June 29.

"All parties are now working hard to conclude what is still a complex legal transaction within a very short timeframe. Once concluded, the transaction will enable the club to move forward and prepare for the upcoming season out of administration.

"It will also ensure that Pride Park Stadium and the club are under the control of a new, local owner with the commitment and resources to enable the club to move forward with a clean slate. The offer also provides the best return for creditors and enables the joint administrators to fulfil their statutory duties and will ensure that there are no further points deductions levied against the club once it is out of administration.

"The acceptance of Clowes' offer, and the entering into a period of exclusivity means the joint administrators are now prohibited from continuing discussions with other parties who had indicated an interest in acquiring the club. The main focus is now on concluding the transaction with Clowes within the targeted timeframe."

Clowes has emerged as the potential new owner after American businessman Chris Kirchner withdrew his offer to buy the club.

Derby were were put into administration at the start of last season and subsequently relegated from the Championship after being hit with a combined 21-point deduction.

Rooney, having been in charge for a year and a half and on the back of leading a valiant fight against the drop, stepped down saying he felt "the club now needs to be led by someone with fresh energy and not affected by the events that have happened over the last 18 months".

While Rosenior will get to work in the hot seat as preparations build for the season ahead, Rooney will be pondering what is next for him.

After leaving his first role in management, the 36-year-old will be looking at routes back into the game with positions in the Premier League and Championship most likely to be on his radar.

But according to Dean Saunders, the most important thing for Rooney must be the club itself, with another tough job having the potential to end his managerial career.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "Whatever league he takes a job in, whether it's League One, the Championship or the Premier League, he has to go to a club where he thinks he has a chance of doing well.

"If he takes an impossible job, for example, Nottingham Forest to try and win the Premier League, it's an impossible job.

"If the owner says that their budget is the tenth highest in the league and he said that wants you to get in the play-offs, then I'd be saying 'hang on a minute, there's ten teams that have spent more money than us, I know I can coach my way into the top four but that's a tough job you've given me'.

"But if they say they've got the highest budget in the league but they just want to get in the play-offs as a minimum, that's a good job.

"Whatever league it is, give yourself the best chance of doing well. Don't take an impossible job now because that will be the end of him."

Asked if he should follow in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard who started his managerial career with Rangers, Saunders wasn't so sure.

He said: "If he got offered a job like Sunderland who have just gone up, have massive support, owners have just come in and said 'we're going to try and get it up, once it's up and running, this club is going places'.

"That'd be a great job for him.

"To take the Rangers job or the Celtic job, I thought that Steven Gerrard was mad when he took it. He had the Liverpool job on a plate, but he went there and did himself proud.

"He did better than I thought because Celtic had double the amount of money that he had at Rangers to start with, but he got them winning.

"He did well and probably he deserves a bit of credit for that team."