Among the greatest ever days in Derby County’s 138-year history, one ranks pretty high right now. After FA Cup glory in 1946, and two league titles in the 1970s, add to that list July 1, 2022.
At 6.52pm that evening, Rams fans received the news their tortured hearts had long hoped for. “The rebuild starts now,” Derby’s official Twitter gleefully announced. “Lifelong supporter David Clowes is our new owner.” In an open letter to supporters, the chairman of property agents Clowes Developments resisted “extravagant promises”, admitting his reluctance to even purchase the club at all. “The decision to get involved has not been an easy one,” wrote the qualified pilot, worth a reported £252 million. “As a private person, I’d prefer to remain an anonymous supporter, watching the team from my usual seat.”
That Rams fans were so relieved, given such a muted introduction, was an indication of the depth of their recent anguish. A club that competed in the Championship play-off final as recently as 2019 has seen it all since then, from docked points to relegation.
THE £180 MILLION GAMBLE
After everything they’ve been through, even the most optimistic Derby fan is approaching the new era with caution. After all, they’ve been here before, when Mel Morris took full control of the club in 2015. The diehard fan had made much of his £500m fortune via the popular Candy Crush mobile game – naturally he knew how to get pulses racing.
“I hope together we can help steer this club back into a sustainable place in the Premier
