Former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has dropped plans to buy Derby County.

The Sun says Ashley is fuming about the way the Rams' administrators rejected his offer to buy the club and even subsidise it this season.

Ashley was willing to pay around £25million, then offer stadium owner Mel Morris and admins Quantuma less than their respective £20m and £3m.

But with Middlesbrough and Wycombe still to be dealt with, it became too big a cost — and Derby sold top kids Luke Plange and Omari Kellyman.

Brokers with several available clubs have also been in talks with Ashley.