Derby County’s hopes 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 lifelong fan, who is currently in his second season as the Rams’ owner, bought Derby in 2022 out of fear that the 140-year-old team would be completely liquidated.
Derby County owner David Clowes praised by Rams fan pundit
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 actions off the pitch have paid off.
Furthermore, Rams fan pundit Shaun Woodward of Football League World rates Clowes’ stewardship at Pride Park as perfect, but he also stresses that fans must exercise patience when it comes to possible transfers in future seasons.
“10/10 for me – David Clowes can do no wrong,” Woodward told Football League World.
“He saved the club, he’s got a clear business model in place which is for us to never return to those dark days when we overspend.
“He knows what he’s doing. He wants to do it his way, which is the right way, and we have to be patient with him as fans and trust the process.
“It’s not going to be if we see a player, and we go and buy them because we are Derby County, and chuck loads of money at them. That isn’t going to be the case now.
“We are going to have to start living within our means, and it might take longer to where we want to be, but that’s the right way to do it. We don’t ever want to return to those dark days of almost losing our club.
“So for me, 10/10 and long may it continue – we are just going to have to be patient.”
Derby County’s recent accounts show what a good job David Clowes is doing
Derby just released their financial year-end accounts, which encompass the first season following Clowes’ takeover as owner.
From a base figure of £30.4 million, the club reported an operating loss of £10.6 million through June 30, 2023. However, £19.7 million of that amount was written off 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 spanning 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 bill estimated to be £7.3 million.
By EFL calculations, 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 football finance expert 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 hoping that the club’s promotion to the Championship will only help matters financially in the upcoming seasons.
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