Nottingham Forest’s arch-rivals Derby County have been hit with a new, and immediate, nine-point penalty for financial breaches.
The Rams have now been deducted a total of 21 points this season, and find themselves on -3 in the Championship table.
Wayne Rooney’s side had already had a 12-point deduction imposed for entering administration - and the club have agreed to drop their appeal against those sanctions, leaving them staring down the barrel of relegation this term.
A statement from the English Football League said: "The EFL has today confirmed that Derby County Football Club has received a nine-point sporting sanction with a further three points suspended after admitting to breaches of the League’s Profitability and Sustainability (P&S) rules.
“This matter has been determined under the terms of an ‘Agreed Decision’ reached between the League and the club and was formally ratified by an Independent Disciplinary Commission Chair as per the requirements of EFL Regulations.
“The club, via its administrators, has also agreed, following last week’s adjournment, to the dismissal of its appeal against the 12-point deduction imposed as a consequence of the club entering administration in September 2021, meaning that the sanction continues to apply.
“The new nine-point penalty has been applied immediately, resulting in the club having been deducted a total of 21 points from this season’s 2021/22 Championship table.
“The suspended three-point deduction will take effect if the club does not comply with the terms of the budget as set out in the ‘Agreed Decision’ for the remainder of season 2021/22.
“Both decisions are now final and are not subject to any further rights of appeal under EFL Regulations.”
Carl Jackson, from Quantuma, who were appointed joint administrators to the Rams, said: “This has been a difficult matter to navigate bearing in mind the various issues concerned.
“Whilst point deductions are never ideal for any club, it was critical to the club’s future that all matters were concluded between the EFL and the club in relation to historical issues.
“This conclusion allows us to proceed with our restructuring strategy for the club with prospective interested parties.”
The EFL’s chief executive, Trevor Birch, said: “The EFL’s objective throughout this ongoing process has been to ensure that the principles of the regulations were upheld on behalf of all clubs.
“In order to assess the sporting sanction that was applicable to apply to these breaches, previous P&S cases have been carefully reviewed and guidance taken from them. The EFL has also considered the P&S sanction guidelines as well as mitigation put forward by the club.
“Given the complex circumstances of the case and the various outstanding regulatory issues between the EFL and Derby County, the League is satisfied at the agreed outcome and the sensible approach taken by both parties in negotiating this outcome and in respect of the appeal withdrawal.
“Our focus is to continue to work with the joint administrators to assist them in securing a long-term future for the club.”
