HIGHLIGHTS
- Derby County clinched Championship promotion with a remarkable victory over Carlisle United. Celebrations ensued at Pride Park post-match.
- David Clowes’ takeover saved the club from liquidation and secured their exit from administration, setting the stage for a memorable season.
- Clowes expressed his pride in the club’s resilience and emphasized the importance of restoring joy for generations of Derby fans.
Derby County have secured promotion to the Championship after a few turbulent years off the pitch.
The Rams confirmed their place in the second tier next season after comfortably beating already relegated Carlisle United, with goals in either half from Max Bird and James Collins sparking joyous scenes at Pride Park following the full-time whistle.
But those celebrations may not have been able to take place if it was not for the involvement of one man who saved the club from going out of existence.
David Clowes’ Derby County takeover
In September 2021, it was revealed that the club had entered administration while under the ownership of Mel Morris, resulting in Derby County receiving a 12-point deduction, with an additional nine-point deduction due to breaching EFL accounting regulations. Despite efforts under Wayne Rooney’s management, the team couldn’t stave off relegation to League One during that period.
However, the following season marked the conclusion of an eventful 18 months for Derby County at Pride Park. Clowes, who had previously acquired the stadium at the end of June, saw his bid to purchase the club accepted by administrators, Quantuma, who designated him as the preferred bidder.
The administrators affirmed that Clowes’ offer adhered to EFL insolvency guidelines, thus preventing Derby from incurring further point deductions. On July 1st, the deal was finalized, and the club officially exited administration under Clowes’ ownership. The 55-year-old reportedly paid £55 million to complete the takeover process.
David Clowes issues emotional message to Derby County supporters
Having just missed out on the play-off places last season, Paul Warne and his side ensured the same mistakes were not made again as they claimed the final automatic promotion place on the final day to earn their record points tally.
The Rams knew a point would be enough to secure a return to the Championship after two seasons away, finishing five points clear of Bolton Wanderers in third.
| League One table as it finished | ||||
| Team | P | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Portsmouth (C) | 46 | 37 | 97 |
| 2 | Derby County (P) | 46 | 41 | 92 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 35 | 87 |
| 4 | Peterborough United | 46 | 28 | 84 |
| 5 | Oxford United | 46 | 23 | 77 |
| 6 | Barnsley | 46 | 18 | 76 |
| 7 | Lincoln City | 46 | 25 | 74 |
| 8 | Blackpool | 46 | 17 | 73 |
This passage underscores the remarkable turnaround experienced by the club, which was on the brink of complete liquidation before Clowes stepped in and purchased the East Midlands club. In a message to supporters via the Derby County website, Clowes expressed his sentiments after a memorable season.
“I sensed the emergence of something special at Pride Park,” Clowes stated. “Despite falling just short initially, I remained optimistic amidst the disappointment. The foundation for success was already in place; it just needed nurturing. This promotion back to the Championship feels incredibly special now that those foundations have flourished.”
Clowes acknowledged the challenging moments faced during the season but emphasized the unity and resilience shown by the club, its players, staff, and fans. He also reflected on his decision to acquire the club two years ago, driven by the desire to preserve moments of joy like this for current and future generations of Derby County fans.
The faith Clowes placed in the club has undoubtedly been repaid, granting Derby supporters the opportunity to relish such moments of triumph. While the team has had numerous heroes on the field this season, Clowes stands out as a significant figure whose impact transcends the sidelines.
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