What David Clowes has said about his Derby County future - Is a Pride Park takeover looming?

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Football League World

·4 March 2026

What David Clowes has said about his Derby County future - Is a Pride Park takeover looming?

FLW takes a look at the most recent update involving David Clowes amid conversation of Derby County takeover.

Derby County have had an incredible rise over the last few years, with the club going from administration and League One football to financial security and a chance of promotion to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs.

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While both Paul Warne and John Eustace have played an important role in terms of the situation on the pitch, behind the scenes David Clowes has been crucial off it, with the local businessman funding the club to League One promotion in 2023/24 and survival in the second tier in the following campaign.

However, Clowes has made no secret since he purchased the Rams in July 2022 that he is on the lookout for new investment, with The Telegraph reporting in September 2024 that the 56-year-old was willing to sell up to 80% of the club to help him with his target.

Despite this, in the most recent update from Derby, there has been a new position taken by the club's owner and this may just have an impact on the situation at Pride Park going forward. Football League World has taken a look at this update and what it could mean for any future takeover.

What David Clowes has said about a Derby County takeover

During the most recent Derby Supporters' Board meeting, it was established by the Rams' owner that he is willing to continue his funding of the club at its current rate, and is committed to doing this for several more years if a new owner is not found.

"As previously communicated, Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd continue to inject cash into the club in line with the existing agreements and are committed to continuing this over the coming years. "The club were able to demonstrate that they continue to operate within these cash funding arrangements following the transfer business conducted in the January transfer window. They also demonstrated how they plan to continue operating within the funding arrangements over the coming seasons as the squad evolves and develops further."

Clowes has the East Midlands outfit in an extremely secure position financially, and they are fully compliant with the EFL's Profit & Sustainability rules, despite spending a significant amount in the summer and winter transfer windows.

Multi-million pound moves for the likes of Patrick Agyemang, Derry Murkin, Max Johnston and Lewis Travis have strengthened the Rams as they look to return to the Premier League for the first time since the 2007/08 campaign.

Nevertheless, in the November and December 2025 Supporters' Board meeting Clowes reiterated that Derby's best interests were at the heart of any potential negotiations in the future, with 'Integrity, Progress and Stability' his motto throughout his entire ownership so far.

A takeover at Derby County still looks like it could be a little while away

The Rams are perhaps a little further ahead of where they thought they would be right now, with the initial plan for this season to be a slight improvement on last 2024/25, with Eustace's target reaching 50 points - something that he has already achieved.

Now, Derby are looking to finish in the play-offs, despite Clowes so far being unable to find a new investor over the course of the last four years. There is a great level of excitement at Pride Park right now, and it would not be appropriate for a new party to take charge while they are having the success that they are having.

It seems likely that any potential takeover will come in 2027 at the very earliest, with Clowes already planning ahead for the summer transfer window.