Derby County, who have already been deducted 12 points this season, have seen another nine points taken away, with the club confirming that this morning. 

The Rams are now 18 points from Championship safety, dampening their chances of survival that bit more. 

Derby's were initially handed a 12-point deduction for entering administration, with the latest sanction relating solely to financial breaches. 

This is not just a blow for the club, and their survival chances, it is also expected to impact Derby's administrators, Quantuma, who have suggested that a buyer could have been found by Christmas. 

It remains to be seen how this latest update impacts their pursuit of finding a buyer. 

In a club statement this morning, one of Derby's administrators, Carl Jackson opened up on the matter: “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 verdict 

This has been something that Derby fans have been expecting, but ultimately, it is always difficult now that it has impacted them in the Championship standings. 

However, this is seemingly the last piece in the disastrous and turbulent financial troubles that have plagued the club in recent months, and whilst it appears that the club are destined for League One football next season, it is an excellent opportunity to start again.

Derby have shown excellent fight already this season and if they are to mount any sort of survival challenge, then these levels of desire and belief must be on display week in week out.