Mel Morris has slammed the EFL club-sale process and says he bankrolled Derby during administration.
The former Derby County owner has called for a licensing system to pre-vet prospective buyers, arguing deals would be completed in a week if funds and suitability were certified up front.
What Happened and Why It Matters
Mel Morris, who became Derby County owner in 2015 and placed the club into administration in 2021, has reflected on his tenure and on the league’s role in takeovers. In a new interview, he apologised for how his reign ended while insisting he underwrote costs during the administration period.
He labelled the EFL’s sale framework “fatally broken”, saying clubs waste time assessing would-be purchasers before the league performs its own checks. His proposal is a paid licensing regime to confirm proof of funds and ownership suitability in advance.
“Before someone is able to even make an offer on a football club, they should actually validate them and certify them, knowing that they have funds and will be accepted as an owner to a particular level of funding.”
Morris argued a £50,000 to £100,000 licence fee would fast-track distressed sales and protect clubs on the brink.
“You can get a deal done in a week… as opposed to wasting time… waiting four, five, six weeks. That’s disastrous.”
He also reiterated regret to supporters for the turmoil, adding that external interventions complicated matters as administrators searched for a buyer.
Listen to Mel Morris’ hour-long interview with BBC Radio Derby: https://t.co/o9s9B5G86m
— BBC Sport Derby (@BBCDerbySport) September 19, 2021
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
Morris’s comments reopen long-running debates about governance, transparency and speed in English football’s ownership tests. His suggested pre-approval would shift due diligence to the start of the process, potentially reducing the period clubs spend in limbo and limiting knock-on damage to staff, creditors and sporting performance.
The remarks will be viewed in the context of Derby’s path since the administration. Local businessman David Clowes completed a rescue in 2022, stabilising the club and restoring a clear operational structure at Pride Park.
For many supporters, the immediate priority is continuity on and off the pitch, while the broader question is whether the EFL and stakeholders will consider reforms that combine rigorous checks with faster outcomes for clubs under stress.
Morris’s insistence that he “bankrolled” parts of the administration, alongside his apology for the ending, adds nuance to a period supporters experienced as deeply uncertain. The licensing idea, if ever adopted, would represent a significant change to how prospective buyers enter a process, front-loading scrutiny and costs in return for speed and certainty when a club is for sale.
Derby’s focus now is the season ahead under the current ownership and management, with stability the watchword.
The wider governance conversation, reignited by Morris’s critique, is unlikely to fade, particularly as other EFL clubs navigate ownership changes and the tight timelines that often accompany them.
