Derby County and the rest of the EFL will be watching with interest after reports that league bosses have rejected a mega money offer from an American investment firm.
The report in the times states that a £375m bid for a 20 per cent stake in the league, has been lodged by TPG Capital.
The thought is that they want to install a management team to handle commercial and broadcasting rights.
The report in The Times reads: "TPG Capital offered the cash as part of an arrangement that was similar to CVC Capital Partners’ deal with Premiership Rugby when it took a 27 per cent stake...
"... It is thought that the offer was not put to the 72 EFL clubs but discussed by the league’s commercial chiefs before being rejected. The EFL declined to comment."
The EFL is currently in crisis as it tries to navigate Covid-19 and restrictions put in by the UK Government now to allow spectators.
The Rams have been playing behind closed doors since June.
The league is seeking a £250m bailout while Premier League pair Liverpool and Manchester United hope to paint their own picture of the future with their controversial Project Big Picture.
Most Read
EFL chief executive David Baldwin yesterday announced he was quitting after less than six months in the role, citing the pandemic and personal issues.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has threatened the Premier League with a fan-led review of football after the details of Project Big Picture emerged.
EFL chairman Rick Parry has worked with Liverpool and Manchester United to draw up radical proposals that would see the Premier League bailout lower league clubs and provide more money to them in the long run.
Yet the plans would also see nine Premier League clubs seize power in the division and get more of a say over how things are run.
It has led to criticism from the government, with Dowden telling BBC Breakfast that it is the wrong time to be trying to grab power.
He said: “My number one issue with the proposal is that now is not the right time.
“The challenge facing football now is ensuring particularly the EFL has the resources to enable its clubs to survive.
Don’t miss
“This deal does not command support through the Premier League at all.
“So rather than doing backroom deals to reform football at this critical moment, I’d rather they work together to ensure the future of football.
“I know those conversations have ensured that they won’t allow a club to go to the wall but we do need a more comprehensive package.
“If we look at the Premier League, in the last transfer window more than £1bn was spent.
“That’s more than the four largest clubs in Europe after the Premier League put together.
“If you look at the Premier League, there are the resources there, and I have to say, if they can’t get together and sort this out, we’ll have to return to what we promised in our manifesto, which is a fan-led review of football governance as I think many fans will be concerned at what they’re reading today.”