David Clowes backed for 'statue outside Pride Park' amid takeover links | OneFootball

FLW's Derby fan pundit has given his verdict on David Clowes' ability as owner

Derby County narrowly missed out on a play-off place in just their second season back in the Championship.

The Rams were in contention for a top six finish on the final day, but a defeat to Sheffield United ended their hopes of leap-frogging Wrexham and Hull City.

The Tigers ultimately clinched the final spot in the play-offs, and they went on to secure promotion to the Premier League.

John Eustace will be hoping that he can oversee another top eight finish next season, with the competition expanding to include two more sides.

It could be a busy summer ahead for the club, with David Clowes likely to oversee fresh investment in the first team squad.

The 57-year-old has been in charge of the Championship side since 2022, purchasing the club to take them out of administration.

David Clowes has backing of Derby supporters

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It has been reported that the Rams have received interest from multiple parties regarding potential investment, or even a full takeover, of the club following their impressive Championship campaign.

When asked how happy he is with the owner at this point, FLW’s Derby fan pundit Shaun Woodward claimed that he has the backing of every supporter for what he’s done for the team.

He’s claimed that he fully trusts Clowes with whatever decisions he makes going forward, while also suggesting that the businessman deserves a statute outside Pride Park for what he did to save the club.

“You wouldn’t hear a Derby fan say a bad word about David Clowes,” Woodward told Football League World.

“You’d be hard pushed to find a single fan that would say anything negative about him, we all know what he did for the club all those years ago now.

“I still believe there should be a statue outside Pride Park for him for what he did.

“I think he’ll go down in history as one of the most important people to ever be associated with the club.

“So, whatever he decides to do I fully trust him.

“If he stays, then that’s great because he’s obviously done things his way, he’s done them carefully and he wants us to build properly now without going back into the same downfalls as we had all those years ago under Mel Morris.

“So, he’s doing it the right way.”

Woodward has full faith in Clowes to make the right decision when it comes to potential investment, or even possibly a sale of the club, admitting he trusts his decision-making completely.

“Equally, if he feels that we need investment, which I think we do, then he will get the right person in because I don’t think he will do anything that will put the club in jeopardy,” he added.

“So I fully trust whatever he decides to do.

“If he stays, great, if he brings someone in alongside him great, if he sells to somebody I fully trust him as well because I think he’ll get the right person in, so whatever he does he’s got the backing of every single Derby fan.”

Clowes purchased Derby following their relegation from the Championship, with administration and financial mismanagement playing a key role in their bottom three finish.

The Rams took two seasons to go back up, earning promotion with a second place finish in League One under Paul Warne.

Eustace arrived as manager in February 2025, and he oversaw a 19th place finish in his first few months in charge, with the club avoiding relegation by just one point.

But Derby climbed the Championship over the next 12 months, and were just four points adrift of the play-offs.

The 46-year-old has earned a lot of plaudits for his work at Pride Park, and now will be targeting another promotion push in 2027.

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David Clowes has turned things around very quickly at Derby

Derby were at a real low point prior to Clowes’ takeover, and he has done a remarkable job in turning things around in the four years since.

To go from administration in 2022 to a promotion push in 2026 is quite impressive, even if the team did just fall short of a top six finish.

There are so many reasons for optimism now at Derby, which would’ve been unthinkable in the final couple of years under the previous owner Mel Morris.

While fresh investment may be needed to bridge the gap to the top teams in the Championship, the team is still flying under Eustace and the club have already spent quite wisely, so if they can keep that up then that could make up for some of the difference in resources.