This season, Derby County has been comparatively thrifty with its transfer budget, spending more than a million pounds on just two players: Sondre Langas and Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
The Rams paid £4 million for the latter, who was signed the day after it was reported that Eiran Cashin would be moving to Brighton & Hove Albion for £9 million. During his nearly three years with the club, owner David Clowes has made large investments, yet he wants to sell 80% of his shares.
In their first season in the Championship since 2021–2022, the East Midlands team has struggled to compete, but with John Eustace now leading the team, there is hope that they may turn things around and escape the relegation zone by the end of May.
As Derby attempts to hold onto its second-tier standing for another season after being promoted from League One the previous season, Football League World has examined Clowes’ net worth and how much money he has compared to some of the EFL’s wealthiest owners.
Compared to some of Derby’s competitors, Clowes has a relatively low net worth.
Over the past ten years, football finances have become a very hot topic, and teams at all levels are trying to figure out how to make money while also improving the game.
The Rams are no exception; after Mel Morris left the team in September 2021, Clowes spent £55 million to pull it out of administration, and fans have expressed gratitude for the money he has already invested in the team.
However, as is always the case in football, there is a desire for more, and the 55-year-old is looking to sell some of his Derby stake in order to help the team get more funding to take it to the next level on the field. According to The Sunday Times Rich List 2024, Clowes has a net worth of £360 million, and the former Rams season ticket holder makes his money through his family’s business, Clowes Developments. Although Derby’s owner has an incredible amount of financial strength, it is a relatively small pot. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Sunderland’s main stakeholder, has control of a trust fund worth approximately £2 billion, and the Black Cats are involved in the promotion picture.
In the meanwhile, three businessmen own QPR: Ruben Gnanalingam, Richard Reilly, and Amit Bhatia. Each of them contributes a different amount of money to the team. According to Forbes, the former has the largest share in the team and is estimated to be worth $1.6 billion (£1.2 billion) with his family.
According to reports, John Coates of Stoke City is worth $4.6 billion (£3.66 billion). However, his team continues to struggle at the bottom of the Championship standings.
Clowes has brought financial stability to Derby.
Clowes has done a good job of rebuilding the team from the bottom up after taking over in the last hour, even though they are not among the wealthiest clubs in the Championship.
Even if the Rams might still be relegated back to League One, they would be in a far better place than when it happened the last time.
Derby still has a lot of time to turn things around, and with Clowes cheering for Eustace in the boardroom, there is a good chance the East Midlands team will begin the upcoming campaign in the second division for another year.
