Derby County moved a step closer towards finding a new owner after former Derby County owner Mel Morris reached a deal with Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson, which had been pursuing compensation from the club.

It is hoped the move will go some way to paving the way for the Rams to sold out of administration.

Both Derby and Middlesbrough have issued a statement that the agreement had come as a “direct result of private conversations” between Mr Morris and Mr Gibson.

Derby have been in administration since the autumn and although there are three potential buyers lined up, the process has been delayed by issues including compensation claims by Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers.

The Derby and Boro statement said: “As a direct result of private conversations between Mel Morris and Steve Gibson both parties are pleased to announce that they have reached an accord on a resolution of the claims by Middlesbrough Football Club against Derby County Football Club, and others.

“The basis of that accord will remain private but details have been shared with Quantuma the administrators for Derby County who will urgently prepare the legal documentation to ratify the accord.

“Gibson and Morris were keen to develop an accord ahead of the Middlesbrough V Derby County fixture to be played at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow [Saturday, Feb 12].

“The claim has clearly been the source of much concern to both sets of fans, and especially those of Derby County.

“The fact that a resolution has been discussed and agreed should be comforting to both sets of supporters.

“Details of the accord shall remain private. However, it is important for all interested parties, including potential bidders, to be confident that the Middlesbrough claim will not be an impediment to Derby County progressing its plans for a sale of the club.”

Carl Jackson, partner on behalf of Quantuma, the joint administrators of Derby County, said: “We are pleased to see that an acceptable resolution has been identified which allows us to push forward with our plans for the sale of the club.”

Derby boss Wayne Rooney welcomed news of the accord and said: “Obviously, that’s been the main stumbling block in moving forward.

“I’ve been pushing and pushing about getting new owners in and this is a big step to allow that to happen.

“So now the next step is obviously the administrators engaging with the preferred bidders and getting the right one in.”

Sources close to the Binnie family, one of the bidders for Derby, had become frustrated over the lack of progress regarding the claims and feared the actions of Middlesbrough and Wycombe were driving Derby into liquidation.