Toby Perkins has joined the fight to save Derby County from liquidation as a petition calling for the Minister for Sport to investigate the ongoing situation reached 50,000 signatures.

Derby County went into administration four months ago and the administrators, Quantuma, have been trying to secure a buyer. They have a number of interested buyers and would like to announce a preferred bidder, but legal complications are preventing them from proceeding with any sale, putting the club at risk of going into liquidation.

Toby Perkins said, “I have quizzed Ministers in Parliament on this concerning situation following my letter to the Sports Minister asking for an urgent investigation into the situation at Derby County.

The Government must engage in discussions with the EFL to try and resolve this before it is too late. Rams fans have been badly let down by the people running the club and none of this is their fault. I am inundated with emails from concerned fans and I know how much the club means to them, their communities and all of East Midlands’ football.”

The complications are being caused by due to the club’s compensation battles with Wycombe and Middlesbrough, which the EFL are regarding as football debts. Rules dictate that all football-related sums must be paid in full. Quantuma and fans are asking the EFL to change the status of the debt, which would then allow sale of the club to proceed.

Toby added, “This is a complicated situation but I am sure with the right will, and appropriate interventions from Government to try and help resolve this dispute, that a solution can be found to save Derby County. Wayne Rooney and the players are doing their part on the pitch and it’s a shame that disputes off the pitch are putting such a big club, with a fantastic heritage, at risk.