Pride restored, future ambitions, greed warning - Derby County investment call verdict

Derby County's fans after their side finished runners up in League One
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Rams owner Dave Clowes has never hidden his aims since buying Derby County. The club was in peril and he came to the rescue, a mission crowned by last season's promotion to the Championship. But the businessman knows he only has the financial wherewithal to take the Rams so far. It is a Premier League club in all but league status - and to get the Rams back to where they belong will take money - and lots of it.

It is with this in mind that Clowes has made clear the club needs investors, and talks have been held, but only those willing to adhere to the special conditions he has placed on any deal - namely that he remains chairman and the ethos of the clubs is not hijacked.

That is all good and to be applauded, but his actions have sparked a lively debate amongst DerbyshireLive readers. Here is what some of them are saying...

READ MORE:Why Derby County want an investor, why there's no rush and what must align for a deal to be done

READ MORE:Derby County seek investors but deal must meet key condition after David Clowes talks

Grabbags

David Clowes, or his group of companies, are only guardians of our wonderful club. It is nice that he is being open and keeping supporters informed. I would have thought we would get lots of interest; there is so much to like and little to be negative about. You never know what you get next until history is written. At times it becomes a version of the seven deadly sins from supporters' wish list - pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. David Clowes gave us back the first of those, pride. There's always a next chapter, even when adding the word 'ends' came close several times.

TeleDav2

He is a clever, tough, streetwise property developer who is a Derby fan. He knows there is not much more value to be added to the club until it gets into the Premier League. Whether we finish 20th or 7th makes little difference to the valuation apart from some players increasing in value. He has put up money and will get a return for that now it is in the Championship and fundamentally debt free and all assets consolidated under one company. Hopefully before next season the next phase of DCFC starts and back to the hard fight to get to the top league and stay there.

Beaufort1

He never had ambitions to become owner of Derby County, he was content to be a supporter sitting in the stand, but circumstances meant that he had to intervene - and thank heavens he did. I just hope that whoever eventually takes the helm they demonstrate the same common sense approach that he has taken, even if they are in a better financial position to invest. As the Al Jazeera documentary demonstrated, finding a genuine buyer with the right intentions isn’t straightforward.

Chameleonxxx

DC has been immense for DCFC but he knows we cannot compete at a higher level without further investment. This is a sensible decision as long as due diligence is done on any investors.

EricBlair4U

Clowes saved the club but knows it needs someone with a big wallet for it to move forward and compete. I would like to see shares issued like Manchester United for 31 %, and then the remaining 49% to a rich Indian/ Arab/ American/ Niall Horhan. If it is an American it will probably be one that already owns a baseball/ football/ basketball team as this helps them when negotiating TV deals. Beckam might be interested to help his American Soccer team. Other movie stars like Wrexham and B'ham city may also be interested.

Grantdcfc

What could possibly go wrong by allowing significant investment in the club from some/several greedy overseas venture capitalists who fancy playing as a proper football fan for a year or two before totally losing interest and abandoning or asset stripping the club?

The club is properly run now and we should be consolidating with a locally owned model, ideally with club ownership resting in the hands of people who understand what Derby County means.

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