But this is what wealthy businessman do, set up companies whereby if they fail there is no great risk to their personal wealth. What Mel has done is no different to what Jamie Oliver did when his restaurant chain went belly up.

Now in both cases the individuals concerned would be able to say that they have indeed lost a substantial amount of their own money in the process, though of course not to the extent that they still don't have significant personal wealth. Nothing illegal in that of course.

If HMRC do demand their pound of flesh and that results in the club being liquidated, then regrettably thats life.


I have to say I'm increasingly twitchy about where this is all leading. For now Derby are heading for league 1 and the rest of the season is an irrelevance.