David can be the man to rebuild the club he loves
THIS week the Derby Telegraph reached out to Derby County supporters to ask how the club’s takeover saga has affected them.
Each tale they told followed a trend of anxiety, fear and tears.
Some even revealed how their own personal relationships had suffered because Derby’s plight had caused so much stress. For a fanbase that idolises a club that beats loud and proud in its community, it demonstrated the cost this crisis was having on their mental health.
Derby is a club that has helped strangers become friends while families have spent years investing their emotions across countless generations. For nine months they have all gone through the same routine of wondering when the nightmare will ever end amid justifiable concern as to whether the club would survive.
When American businessman Chris Kirchner pulled out of his deal to buy the club a week last Monday, there was a feeling that Derby were suffering a death by a thousand cuts.
As a long-standing supporter, David Clowes will have understood and undoubtedly shared the distress that has engulfed the club over the last few months.
But while there has been a lot of talk about the interest from other bidders, he has decided to take action that will take him from the terraces to the boardroom. In what represents a major and significant step, he confirmed that his property firm Clowes Developments has purchased Pride Park from the previous owner Mel Morris in a deal that was completed last Friday.
The stadium, separated from the club by Morris back in 2018, was one of the major obstacles to any takeover being completed because it did not fall under the remit of the club’s administrators Quantuma.
The Football League also said it was a major challenge to overcome, but now that hurdle has been cleared. All that remains now is the takeover
of a club that is in desperate need of TLC.
Clowes is now busy preparing his bid that was due to be submitted yesterday, while he is already undergoing the owners and directors’ test at the EFL. In the meantime, Clowes Developments has issued a loan to the club that will enable them to start the season, sell season tickets and allow them to reinforce a squad that has seven players contracted for next season.
Nobody should be under any illusion that there is a great deal of work to be carried out in the short term as a result of takeovers that were promised but never materialised. But at least Derby can now approach a busy month ahead with renewed optimism about what the future holds after some truly dark days - albeit looking for a new manager.
In an eloquent statement, Clowes said it was “inconceivable” to him that one of the founding members of the Football League was at risk of “falling away”. Clearly, he is a man with Derby at heart and understands the crucial role the club plays in the city.
Should he now go on to complete the formalities of the club’s takeover, which will lead to an exit from administration, he will take his place in history as the man who saved Derby County.
Derby fans can be forgiven for not truly celebrating - after all they have just sees the departure of Wayne Rooney. But Clowes’ actions feel significant because of his affinity with the club he supports.
Not only has it given everybody hope that he can finally end what has been the darkest chapter in the club’s history, but a saga that has undoubtedly been mentally exhausting for the players, the staff and the supporters.
It feels like a good day to be a Derby fan again and it’s been a long time since we were able to say that.