Derbyshire businessman emerges as frontrunner to take over Derby County
David Clowes
David Clowes, the chairman of the Clowes group of companies, has emerged as the frontrunner to buy Derby County.
Report suggest that, Clowes, a lifelong Derby fan, will be given preferred bidder status from Rams administrator Quantuma this morning (June 24), according to both Sky Sports News and The Sun.
Clowes is thought to have agreed a deal to buy Pride Park for a sum in the region of £23.5m and is now in the driving seat to complete the deal for the entire club.
Clowes’s rivals for the club remain former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and former Rams chairman Andy Appleby, but he appears to now be the frontrunner.
If Clowes is named as preferred bidder today he will have a deadline of next Wednesday (June 29) to complete the deal to buy Derby County.
The news comes the week after Quantuma said it was looking to secure a short-term loan so that its can pay staff, buy players and put season tickets on sale.
The Rams have been in administration since last Autumn and were relegated from the Championship last season. The club currently only has five contracted players and earlier this month US businessman Chris Kirchner walked away from a rescue deal.
