Former Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook still retains an interest in crisis-club Derby County as the quest to find a saviour for the Rams continues to intensify.
The Sun on Sunday reported how Cook is one of the interested parties hoping to succeed beleaguered Mel Morris as the club’s new owner.
Cook was reportedly behind a deal to buy the Rams earlier this year but could not get it over the line because of the feud with the Football League.
But according to the Sun’s Alan Nixon the interest has not dwindled as the club’s administrators Quantuma look to find a suitable buyer for the Championship club.
Cook, who was chief executive of City from 2008 to 2011, is said to be backed by US funding and according to the Sun could be open to a deal if the “price is right”.
Derby’s debt is said to run into tens of millions, but the administrators have said the club has a 95 per cent chance of surviving the crisis.
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Another name that is also in the frame is that of former chairman Andy Appleby who sold his stake in Derby to Morris back in 2015.
Derby are currently bottom of the Championship after incurring a 12-point penalty for entering administration which has left them on minus two at the foot of the table.
But they could also be hit with another nine-point deduction by the EFL due to historic FFP breaches.
On the pitch, however, Derby continue to produce encouraging performances as they were beaten narrowly by Sheffield United at the weekend.
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And midfielder Graeme Shinnie says boss Wayne Rooney has had a huge impact on the dressing room with the way he has handled the crisis.
“The gaffer has been unbelievable,” Shinnie told the Athletic.
“He could easily walk away with his head held high but he is not going to leave these players on their own.
“Has it inspired us? One hundred per cent. And it works both ways. When he sees us fighting the way we are I think it will make him as proud as we are of him.
“I read a quote (from Rooney) saying he could (leave and) go lie on a beach somewhere, but he said what man would he be if he did that? It shows right from the top what an attitude he has. It rubs off on the players, the fans and the club.”
