A NORTH Yorkshire coroner has bought struggling First Division football side Derby County.

Harrogate assistant deputy coroner John Sleightholme last week became chairman of the Rams.

Now he has revealed that he has bought a two-thirds stake in the club.

"Two people own the club - myself and Jeremy Keith. I own two-thirds and Jeremy one-third, it's as simple as that," he said yesterday.

The two men paid a total of £15 million.

"The £15 million has come from a lending institution which has lent money to other football clubs. It is a loan," Mr Sleightholme said.

A three-man consortium of Mr Sleightholme, Mr Keith and Steve Harding took control of Derby last week.

Of the three, only Mr Keith has previously been involved with a football club, having been a director of Portsmouth for three months in 1998.

None of the three have connections with Derby but Mr Sleightholme said that Derby County was a club worth being involved with and worth reviving.

The team are currently lying fourth from bottom, only one place outside the relegation zone, in the First Division.

Leeds-based barrister Mr Sleightholme said: "Derby County reached the edge of financial disaster last week. Since then, the club's future has been secured and with that comes renewed hope."

Updated: 10:53 Tuesday, October 28, 2003