George and an English football team

This from the local paper yesterday:

     https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/george-clooney-derby-county-8782950


     Now turned into this in a national newspaper today:

     https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10653995/George-Clooney-linked-possible-Derby-County-FC-takeover.html

[size=34]The Cloo-tiful game? Ocean's Eleven star George Clooney is linked to possible Derby County FC takeover after he tells lifestyle magazine the Rams 'fire his imagination'[/size]

• Film star, 60, is huge fan of the ex-Premier League club, which was placed in administration last September
  
  
• He hinted that he could help out its manager, Wayne Rooney, by possibly leading a consortium to buy the cash-strapped club
  
  
• Clooney began following club, known as the Rams, after being introduced to them by Derby-born actor Jack O'Connell while they worked on 2016 film Money Monster
  
  

By NICK ENOCH FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 21:22 EDT, 25 March 2022 | UPDATED: 05:49 EDT, 26 March 2022

   

Struggling football club Derby County could soon have the most unlikely of saviours... Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.
The Ocean's Eleven star - more used to film pitches than football pitches - has revealed he's a huge fan of the ex-Premier League club, which was placed in administration last September.
The 60-year-old hinted that he could help out its manager, Wayne Rooney, by possibly leading a consortium to buy the cash-strapped club.  

Clooney began following the team - known as the Rams - after being introduced to them by fellow actor Jack O'Connell, who hails from Alvaston, Derbyshire, while the pair worked together on 2016 crime thriller Money Monster. 
He said that listening to Jack's passion about the team 'fired [his] imagination'. 
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George Clooney has revealed he's a huge fan of ex-Premier League club Derby County, which was placed in administration last September
In an interview with lifestyle magazine Derbyshire Life, Clooney said: 'Derby has a great football club with a fantastic history and I am sure there is a great future too.
'A few years ago, I was asked if I would like to be involved with a group of others looking to buy Malaga Football Club in Spain.
'It was quite an exciting prospect but ultimately it fell through. Perhaps owning a football club is the next best thing to playing for one. Maybe, one day....'
Clooney's musings come as Derby's administrators hope to be in a position to name a preferred bidder which 'best secures the long term future of the club' following discussions with the English Football League early next week.
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The 60-year-old Hollywood star hinted that he could help out Derby's manager, Wayne Rooney (centre), by possibly leading a consortium to buy the cash-strapped club
Since the Sky Bet Championship side were placed in administration six months ago, the process to secure new ownership has become protracted.
Administrators Quantuma issued a statement on Friday afternoon noting that offers for the club must be presented 'in their final format by close of business today.'
The From Dusk Till Dawn actor added: 'I was introduced to the Rams by Jack O'Connell. He was so passionate about his team and has followed Derby County all his life. 


'I had to admire that and listening to the club's history was quite intriguing and fired my imagination. 
'I watched a few games on TV and gradually I began to understand soccer better and began to look out for Derby County's games and results.'  
During his interview, Clooney, who lives with his wife Amal in a Grade II-listed home in Sonning, Berkshire, said he also hopes Derby will return to the Premier League which they were relegated from in 2008, The Sun reported. 
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Clooney began following the team - known as the Rams - after being introduced to them by fellow actor Jack O'Connell, who hails from Alvaston, Derbyshire, while the pair worked together on 2016 crime thriller Money Monster (pictured together, in the film)

[size=34]So who will be Derby's preferred bidder?[/size]

Derby's administrators hope to be in a position to name a preferred bidder which 'best secures the long term future of the club' following discussions with the English Football League early next week.
The Sky Bet Championship side were placed in administration last September and the process to secure new ownership has become protracted.
Administrators Quantuma issued a statement on Friday afternoon noting that offers for the club must be presented 'in their final format by close of business today.'
The merits of the bids will then be assessed to identify a preferred bidder before discussions take place with the EFL over approval of any deal.
The EFL said on March 3 it had received assurances from the administrators that sufficient funds were in place to see out the season.
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Ravel Morrison of Derby County celebrates scoring their first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium on March 5
American businessman Adam Binnie, whose family have made two bids for the club, said earlier this month that administrators had rejected their most recent bid of £30million and would not speak to them again unless that offer was increased.
Former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley had been interested in the club, but it remains to be seen if that is still the case.
A spokesperson on behalf of the joint administrators said on Friday: 'Further to Team Derby's statement of Monday 21 March and in the interests of continued accurate and transparent reporting, the joint administrators of Derby County Football Club would like to clarify the process we will be undertaking in order to be in a position to publicly name our preferred bidder.
'Bidders must present offers for the club in their final format by close of business today. The joint administrators will assess the merits of all bids received over the weekend of 26/27 March and will identify their preferred bidder.
'This will be the bid which we feel best secures the long-term future of the club.
'Early next week, the joint administrators will commence discussions with the EFL.
'Further to their approval to proceed, we will then be in a position to publicly name the preferred bidder.'
Following a 21-point deduction due to entering administration and breaches of EFL financial rules, Derby sit bottom of the Championship table, eight points from safety with seven games left.

Wow! It's not even 1st April yet!