Derby County owner puts forward plans for Supporters Board

Derby County have put forward plans for a new supporter-led organisation to ensure that fans have a say in strategic and government issues at the club.

Owner David Clowes is proposing the introduction of a Supporters Board (SB) that would sit alongside the club’s existing Supporters’ Charter Group (SCG).

Both fan-populated chambers would carry equal weight and importance but with separate responsibilities.

It is proposed that the SB would meet quarterly with the DCFC board while the SCG would continue its regular schedule of meetings.

The Club will retain a two-way dialogue with both the SB and SCG, and the SB and SCG will ensure close collaboration with one another (particularly where issues overlap).

The SB would get a veto on issues such as Derby County moving away from Pride Park and changing the club’s colours without fan consent.

It would also be consulted on the Rams’ financial accounts and sponsorship principles, but would have no veto over these elements.

Clowes says the six-strong SB would provide a greater degree of transparency around Club matters and ensures governance issues are given a platform for discussion not currently available at SCG level.

He added: “When we purchased the Club, my immediate belief was that whatever Derby County had suffered in the darkest period of its history must never be allowed to happen again.

“I strongly believe that the introduction of a Supporters’ Board will give fans a transparency about the decision-making progress at the Club, will allow them to have a say in the areas of the Club’s culture that matter and also to challenge the board and bring fresh ideas to bear.

“That can only be a positive as far as I see, and I made it clear from the outset there needed to be greater fan inclusion in everything we do.”