sport news Derby County buyer Chris Kirchner is given until Friday afternoon to show he ... trends now
Chris Kirchner, the buyer expected to take over Derby County has been given until Friday afternoon to come up with the money and prove he can close the deal.
Derby has been in administration for nine months and the American entrepreneur was appointed as preferred bidder in April. Kirchner was given conditional approval to buy the club in mid-May, with the EFL setting a deadline to complete the deal by the end of the month, but it is yet to conclude.
As reported by Sportsmail, at 'multiple' meetings in the last week he has been unable to deliver the funds, believed to be £22M in payments, to finalise the purchase causing parties involved in the deal to become concerned that it may not go ahead.
Doubts emerged about US businessman Chris Kirchner's attempts to buy crisis-torn Derby
The joint administrators, Quantuma, have told Kirchner that while he remains in pole position for now, he has until 5pm on Friday to show he can complete the sale.
Kirchner's team have consistently said they expect to reach financial close, but it has been suggested the transfer of funds has been hit by Bank Holidays in the US and UK last week, and delays related to money laundering checks.
However, reflecting the growing anxiety, the administrators also said they will now 'engage with other interested parties as a contingency measure' ahead of the Friday evening deadline.
Derby County were relegated to League One last season following a 21-point deduction
One interested party is former Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, who has tracked Derby's situation for months, but he is unlikely to make a move while Kirchner is still involved.
Ashley's camp is believed to be furious at how the process has been handled and with the clock ticking down towards the start of the new season, every day counts.
A source close to the Ashley camp told Sportsmail; '[If the deal is not done on Friday] then over the weekend nothing is going to happen.
'It is a unhealthy position.
