US entrepreneur Chris Kirchner named as preferred bidder for struggling Derby

Chris Kirchner has been named as the preferred bidder for struggling Derby (Richard Sellers/PA)

Derby’s joint administrators have named Chris Kirchner as the preferred bidder for the struggling Sky Bet Championship club.

The administrators confirmed they have entered a period of exclusivity with Kirchner, an American software entrepreneur, in the belief that a deal will secure the club’s long-term future.