Sports Direct boss mulling Derby County bid, say reports

Mike Ashley could be in line for a dramatic move to buy Derby County out of administration.

Ashley, who owns the Frasers Group, last week sold Newcastle United for £305m to a Saudi consortium, and is keen to make a swift return to football club ownership, according to reports in the Mirror.

The Rams were place into administration by previous owner Mel Morris last month (September), with Quantuma called in to find a buyer for the club.

In a press conference the next day, Carl Jackson and Andrew Hosking, joint administrators from Quantuma, said they consider the Rams to have a “viable future”.

The 137-year-old club, which according to owner Mel Morris are losing between £1.3m and £1.5m a month, is currently managed by former England captain Wayne Rooney, was one of 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888, and last played in the top flight in 2008.