CyderInACan

Exclusive: Middlesbrough to sue Derby over alleged breaches of financial rules share Middlesbrough and Derby in action earlier this season John Percy 24 MAY 2019 • 7:36 PM Middlesbrough have stunned Derby by announcing their intention to sue the Championship club, days before the play-off final at Wembley. Steve Gibson, the Middlesbrough owner, has taken drastic action in his dispute with Mel Morris by vowing to take legal action over what he insists are clear breaches of financial rules. Gibson is alleging that Morris has broken the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules and Middlesbrough officials contacted Derby on Friday to inform them of their stance. Boro are understood to be furious that Derby reported a £14.6m profit in their 2017/18 accounts, after Morris sold the club’s Pride Park stadium and then leased it back. Gibson believes that Morris has flouted the rules. Derby are adamant they have been fully compliant, and the timing of Middlesbrough’s shock move has surprised the club ahead of their play-off final against Aston Villa on Monday. Morris also twice invited Middlesbrough officials to look at Derby’s accounts in a meeting of all EFL clubs at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground in March. He said: "Middlesbrough were offered by us in writing to come with their advisors to go through our submissions for profitability and sustainability, [but] they declined." Gibson’s attempt to force an independent inquiry of club finances was also rejected by all of the Championship clubs in another meeting last month. Villa and Sheffield Wednesday have also been in Gibson’s sights but his row with Derby is now threatening to turn ugly. Derby were unavailable for comment.

Shit just got real https://twitter.com/telefootball/status/1131992444793511936?s=21

There does need to be a concerted effort to bring the cheats to book. I'm sure the owners who run their clubs in line with, or close to, the rules (or the spirit of the rules) must be exasperated at the financial chicanery employed by the few who think they are above the law.

Agreed. One of the best ongoing threads there is.

Are you in some way suggesting that they aren’t coming for us then!?

Do You? But given that the rugby ones always come out later, the 10% discount you’d get off a City one wouldn’t make it cheaper than an early bird one surely?

Ffs Mads. The one from in front of the Lansdown should’ve been nailed on. His favourite side for practicing.

No

When we got promoted 3yr ago Lansdown was serving behind the sports bar at gone midnight!

10% discount still too for City season ticket holders.

He didn't want to tho so now he's Angry

The cavalry has arrived! FFS that would cause scenes

So tonight is the night we could celebrate safety if Newcastle lose v. Saints

Surely you mean wicket, not pitch

So, in a nutshell, he’s fukked it then?

Any meeting with 24 interested parties with differing views will be chaos!

Sod's law that Villa and Derby will face belated sanctions - once one of them has gone up through the playoffs!

Bloody love Big John. Absolutely amazing.

From £10 adults and £1 kids for the Sale game - should be a big crowd - we could even be safe by then! Actually, we could be safe even by the time we play Tiggers as Newcastle host Saints on the friday night! https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/10-for-adults-and-quid-a-kid-when-sale-visit-bs3/

Any BP would be great from this. All eyes on the Newcastle v. Leicester game tonight.

I'll have a single to Paradise Bottom please!

That’ll suit the Dolman fine then

Yes

Now that would be a shocker if that was allowed! No different to Pula Sports (or whatever it's called) paying £50m for naming rights to AG!

Took an absolute pounding. Not great for confidence going into Saturday's big game at Twickers.