There are a number of "well-heeled" businesspeople ready to step in to prevent Derby County from being liquidated, Sky Sports News has been told.
Concerns over the club's future have mounted since Chris Kirchner, who exchanged contracts committing to buy the club, failed to transfer the necessary cash before Friday's 5pm deadline
The EFL has now written to the administrators, expressing real concern that Derby will not be able to field a team next season, "risking the integrity of the competition", with the fixtures due out in less than two weeks.
League organisers have taken what is thought to be an unprecedented step, informing the administrators, Quantuma, that they must now be directly involved in negotiations with potential bidders for Derby.
It is understood Quantuma have seen proof of funds from at least five groups who still want to buy the club. They include Kirchner, former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and former Derby chairman Andy Appleby.
