Derby County are facing relegation from the second-tier Championship after being deducted a further nine points for breaching the English Football League (EFL) accounting rules.
This takes their total points this season to 21, after the club was deducted 12 points due to the Pride Park outfit entering administration in September. If the club does not comply with the terms of the budget agreement for the rest of the 2021/22 season, another three-point deduction will take effect.
The Wayne Rooney's team is sitting at the bottom of the Championship table on minus three points, 18 points from safety, with relegation to League One, the third tier of English football, looking inevitable.
"The EF L's objective throughout this ongoing process has been to ensure that the principles of the regulations were upheld on behalf of all clubs."
"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," English Football League chief executive Trevor Birch noted.
"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," Carl Jackson, a joint administrator for the club stated.
Now, Derby face an uphill task to stay in the Championship this season to avoid relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1986.
The former United man initially took charge of Derby on an interim basis exactly a year ago and landed the job on a permanent basis in January.