Pride Park sale would have been £22m, it’s suggested
FOOTBALL finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested the purchase of Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium cost Clowes Developments £22m.
The property firm announced on Friday that they had purchased the company, Gellaw Newco 202, that owned Pride Park, of which former Rams chairman Mel Morris was in control.
In a Companies House update, records were updated to reflect the changes after the deal was completed on June 17. It showed that £59m of loans from Gellaw Newco 204, another company owned by Morris, were written off. It was also confirmed that Morris’ appointment as a director of Gellaw Newco 202 had been terminated.
David Clowes and Ian Dickinson were appointed directors, while Richard Tavernor, of Clowes Developments, had been appointed secretary.
There was also confirmation that Gellaw Newco 204 Limited was no longer a person with significant control. Fans have wondered what the update means and Maguire offered an explanation.
“Gellaw Newco 204, controlled by Morris, ceases control and writes off £59m of loans due from Gellaw Newco 202, which owns Pride Park,” he said on Twitter.
“Morris no longer a director and David Clowes joins the board. Effective sale price of stadium £22m.”
All that remains for Clowes Developments to complete now is the takeover of the club, which has been in administration for the last nine months.
Administrators Quantuma have confirmed that he has become the club’s preferred bidder with the target set for completion being today.
Clowes Developments have also issued a loan to the club in order for them to start the season, which also enables them to sell season tickets.
■ DERBY County have confirmed ticket details for their pre-season friendlies away against Bradford City and Stevenage.
The summer schedule begins with a trip to play Bradford on July 9 for a 3pm kick-off and they will travel to face Stevenage on July 19 (7.30pm).
Rams fans have been handed an allocation of more than 1,167 tickets for the trip to face Mark Hughes’ Bantams and 1,400 for the trip to Stevenage.
The tickets are all unreserved and went on sale yesterday. Prices for the Bradford game are £10 adults, seniors £8, under-24s £8, under-17s £5, under-12s £2. Supporters aged 13 and below must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or above.
There are only five pairs of tickets for wheelchair disabled and personal assistants. Wheelchair and ambulant supporters’ prices are dependent on age, and personal assistants are admitted free.
For further information, email: ticket.office@dcfc.co.uk.
Stevenage tickets can be purchased from borotickets.com and are £15 (under-18s £10, under-12s £2). The Rams also have home preseason friendlies against Hertha Berlin (July 16) and Leicester City (July 23) lined up.
■ MALCOLM Ebiowei has thanked the Rams for his chance after agreeing a five-year deal to join Crystal Palace.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Derby County for their incredible support over the last year or so and for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do on the field,” he said. “And I’d also like to thank the fans for their encouragement, especially given the circumstances of last season.”