The ‘Terrace Talk’ series from Football League World features the views of our FLW Fan Pundits on a variety of topics, including teams, players, managers, potential signings, breaking news, and more.
Derby County’s prospects of automatic promotion are still in jeopardy, despite the fact that they are just six games away from returning to the Championship.
Having played one more game than Ian Evatt’s team, the Rams lost 1-0 to Northampton Town on Saturday afternoon, their tenth loss of the season. Despite this, they are still four points ahead of Bolton Wanderers.
However, many Derby supporters are content that their team, which was saved by local businessman David Clowes, is still playing football every week.
A lifetime fan, who is currently in his second season as the Rams’ owner, bought Derby in 2022 out of worry that the 140-year-old team would be completely liquidated.
Many football fans find it exciting to see Derby return to the top of the table, especially in light of the events surrounding the Pride Park off-field incidents just under two years ago.
Property developer Clowes, based in Derbyshire, made sure the city maintained its football team, which has grown to be a popular destination for tourists in the East Midlands.
The team’s play on the pitch has also been praised, even though his deeds off the pitch have paid off.
Furthermore, Rams fan commentator Shaun Woodward of Football League World rates Clowes’ administration at Pride Park as flawless, although he also stresses that fans must exercise patience when it comes to possible transfers in future seasons.
“David Clowes is unstoppable,” Woodward expressed to Football League World, receiving a score of 10/10.
“He has put in place a clear business plan that aims to prevent us from ever going back to the bad times when we overspent and he saved the club.”
“He is skilled at what he does. As fans, we must be patient with him and have faith in the process as he wants to do things his way, which is the right way.
“We won’t be able to throw a tonne of cash at a player just because we happen to be Derby County and go purchase them. That will not be the case at this time.
“It may take longer to get where we want to go, but we have to start living within our means. That’s the appropriate way to accomplish it. We wish to never go back to those difficult times when we nearly lost our club.
“So for me, 10/10 and long may it continue – we are just going to have to be patient.”
Derby just released their financial year-end accounts, which encompass the first season following Clowes’ takeover as owner.
From a base value of £30.4 million, the club reported an operational loss of £10.6 million through June 30, 2023. However, £19.7 million of that amount was written down as a statutory goodwill write-off, which is an accounting procedure.
In addition to paying administrators Quantuma £13.2 million (the cost of running the club for the nine months it was in administration) and £19.7 million to creditors, Clowes paid £33 million for the club.
Derby paid out £17.2 million in wages to employees across all tiers of the company, from entry-level labourers to upper management. Derby signed every player on a free transfer last season, with the first team squad’s wage expenditure estimated to be £7.3 million.
By EFL figures, that means that wages account for 42% of their turnover. Derby’s revenue was £20.4 million, of which season ticket sales, sponsorships and hospitality contributed £15.1 million.
Relegated clubs from the Championship are only permitted to pay out up to 75% of their turnover in wages, demonstrating their dedication to sustainability.
According to sports financial specialist Kieran Maguire, the club is making good progress in its attempt to rebuild from the ashes of administration. Clowes has been doing a great job since coming to Pride Park.
Even though there is still a long way to go, there are indications that Derby’s finances are improving under the new ownership. Everyone is optimistic that the club’s promotion to the Championship would only help matters financially in the upcoming seasons.
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