Mike Ashley and Sheffield United Innovator Enter Derby County Takeover Battle as John Textor Faces Growing Competition
Derby County’s recent dip in form may have slowed their charge toward the Championship play-offs, but it hasn’t done anything to cool the takeover storm gathering around Pride Park. Off-field speculation is now intensifying, and two major figures have stepped into the spotlight alongside multi-club empire builder John Textor.
One is Mike Ashley, the former Newcastle United owner whose name continues to echo through takeover rumours across English football. The other is James Bord, the professional gambler-turned-data specialist who attempted to push Sheffield United into an AI-powered recruitment revolution last summer.
Bord and Ashley Now Tracking Derby
According to Sunday reporting from journalist Alan Nixon, Bord—whose wealth was built through professional gambling before he pivoted into advanced data analytics—is now weighing up a full takeover bid for Derby County.
Bord’s push to install an AI-led scouting model at Sheffield United is believed to have stalled, prompting him to explore opportunities elsewhere. Pride Park, Nixon reports, has now become a prime target.
His interest is also connected to the recent rumours of a merger between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday—stories that Nixon claims emerged because Bord had explored a move for Wednesday earlier in the year. He is now said to be seeking financial partners to support a bid for Derby.
But Bord isn’t alone.
Nixon adds that Mike Ashley, who attempted to buy Sheffield Wednesday with a £20 million offer, remains active in the market and could revive his long-standing interest in Derby County. Ashley was previously linked with buying the club in 2022, before David Clowes completed his rescue takeover.
However, Ashley’s valuation could become a sticking point once again. His Wednesday bid was deemed too low, and Derby’s price—estimated at around £60 million—may prove a significant hurdle.
Why Derby Is Attracting Major Buyers
Bord’s background makes his interest particularly fascinating. Originally from Middlesex, he earned millions at the poker tables before building companies focused on data modelling—a field in which he has reportedly enjoyed considerable success.
If he succeeds in acquiring Derby County, it’s expected he would immediately revive his AI-driven recruitment vision, reshaping how the club identifies and evaluates talent.
Ashley, meanwhile, brings decades of high-profile ownership experience—though with a divisive legacy—while John Textor, already invested in multiple clubs across Europe and South America, continues to pursue new additions to his football network.
A Historic Club at the Centre of a Bidding War
Derby County’s status as two-time English champions and one of the original founders of the Football League makes the club an attractive asset. Their history, fanbase, and potential pathway back to the Premier League have inevitably caught the eye of ambitious investors.
Now, with Bord, Ashley, and Textor all circling, Derby County could soon find itself at the heart of a genuine bidding battle—one that may shape the long-term future of one of English football’s most historic institutions.
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