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Football

24th Jun 2022

Local business to submit bid for Derby County after purchasing Pride Park

Callum Boyle

Derby County Pride Park

A Derbyshire-based property group are favourites to buy Derby County

A Derbyshire-based property group will submit an official bid to buy Derby County after they completed the purchase of the company that owned the club’s stadium from former owner Mel Morris.

Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd have also issued a temporary loan which will allow Derby to start their League One campaign and trade as they seek to finalise their purchase of the Rams.

It comes after club administrators announced last week that American businessman Chris Kirchner had pulled out of the race to buy the club after failing to provide evidence of the funds required.

Derby County Pride Park

‘As a proud Derby supporter, it was inconceivable to me that the club was at risk of falling away’

David Clowes, the chairman at Clowes Developments, is desperate to save the club he supports from going out of business.

“With a deadline looming and the start of the next season getting closer, we needed to do something,” he said, as per Sky Sports.

“As a local and established property company, purchasing the stadium seemed the obvious first step. Secondly, as a proud Derby supporter, it was inconceivable to me that the club was at risk of falling away.

“We’ve worked tirelessly behind the scenes on the stadium purchase and loan agreement to be able to get the club going again in time for the next season. Players, staff and fans needed some good news, and we are delighted to play a part in delivering that.

“As a long-standing loyal supporter, I am personally delighted that we are in a position to be able to secure the future of the football club. This is a very proud and humbling moment for Clowes Developments.”

The purchase of Pride Park had actually been completed on Friday June 17, but all parties had agreed to keep the deal confidential  until confirmation of the loan agreement so that both developments could be announced at the same time.

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