"Football First" policy and major development masterplan underpin Derby County takeover bid

I have today submitted a bid for Derby County Football Club with the intention of providing renewed investment where it matters most – on the field of play – and giving supporters a bigger say in the operation of the club they, and I, hold dear. Strict financial control remains essential but the time has come to put football and fans first.

The bid has a value of £37m and will be funded by equity, which means that it will not introduce new debt to the club. Vitally, the bid will also support manager Nigel Clough by making an additional £5m available to him for much-needed new signings during the summer transfer window.

Alongside this bid, I am also announcing a major redevelopment initiative for 70 acres of land adjoining Pride Park and renewing my commitment to the Pride Plaza project, which offers a variety of dining and refreshment options to improve the match-day experience for supporters. These developments would provide superb new amenities for the city and its residents, offer considerable benefits to Rams fans and generate significant revenues for the club.

The bid, which includes Pride Park Stadium and the Moor Farm training complex, is a serious and substantial one reflecting the current value of the club and has been submitted to General Sports Derby Partners LLC in America, the holding company for Derby County Football Club.

In making this offer, I am joined by two prominent businessmen who have Derbyshire connections and whose identity and shareholding will be revealed on their appointment to the Board, ensuring that supporters will no longer remain uncertain about the ownership of the club. I will be the majority shareholder. The labyrinth of stakeholdings created by the current regime, with far-flung investors in America, Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands, makes it hugely difficult to identity the beneficial owners or discover who controls what percentage, a situation that flies in the face of claims of transparency.

Benefits:

Transfer Funds:

The commitment to providing immediate transfer funds, a policy which reaped rewards with promotion in 2007, will give Nigel Clough the tools to do the job and put an end to a playing policy dependant on loans. Derby have borrowed around a dozen players already this season and that is not the way forward for a club with such enviable levels of support.

A new stake for supporters:

From next season the fans will provide around 70 per cent of the club’s income via season ticket sales, gate receipts and commercial input. I believe this entitles them to a say in the way it is run and promise to establish a new trust comprising members of the various supporters’ groups and gift to it ten per cent of the equity of DCFC. This will open up a direct line of communication with those whose support is the lifeblood of the club.

Experienced local ownership:

With more than 20 years of experience in the running of the club, I offer much greater football knowledge than exists within the current administration and a track record of success that includes responsibility for the building of Pride Park Stadium and the Moor Farm training complex, clearing large amounts of debt when relegation and financial meltdown threatened in 2006, major investment in players and the prompt delivery of Premiership football.

Affordability (Season Tickets & Catering):

I will undertake an immediate review of season ticket pricing with the intention of reducing certain categories and removing the financial penalties for failing to renew four months ahead of the 2010-11 season. I will be urging the current administration to remove that punitive levy immediately. We will remain committed to filling Pride Park but there will be an end to the distribution of large numbers of free or heavily discounted tickets, a practice that serves as a disincentive to fans who commit their support in advance by buying season tickets.

The catering rights to Pride Park were sold for approximately £4m in 2008 which means that the club no longer has control of pricing and I would seek to negotiate a prompt end to this arrangement. Supporters were never informed of this sale or told what the income from the sale was used for. I would want to take back control of catering services and make it more affordable.

Major Savings:

I believe that between £1m and £1.5m per year is draining from the club in payments to those members of the senior personnel directly linked to the investment group including management charges and expenses going to Chairman Andrew Appleby’s USA-based company for a handful of visits to Derby. Local ownership will remove these unsustainable Premiership-level costs and make a significant addition to the football budget.

Pride Plaza and major redevelopments of the Chaddesden Sidings to include new sports village

Pride Plaza:

I have always envisaged that Pride Plaza would generate vital additional funds for the football club and provide superb facilities for supporters and for residents of the Pride Park area. Now is the time to move forward with this development, for which planning permission has already been granted, and deliver valuable profits to Derby County.

Chaddesden Sidings:

In conjunction with the landowners, I have produced a comprehensive Masterplan providing for mixed-use development on land now known as the Derwent Triangle and earmarked for “Employment.” This will combine enhanced facilities for football supporters and local residents while stimulating the city’s economy by creating around 1,500 new jobs.

It will increase the amount of parking available and a much improved transport infrastructure will provide a free-flowing one-way system and a new bridge across the River Derwent to alleviate traffic congestion.

Subject to the agreement of Derby City Council, this development would also accommodate the sports initiative they announced in January by providing a new Sports Village incorporating a cycling velodrome, athletics facilities, tennis courts, cafes and retail amenities. People welcome this initiative and I look forward to further, productive discussions with the Council.

The Way Ahead

The funds are in place. The commitment is strong. The timetable is ready for new ownership to make an impact in time to upgrade the prospects for next season. It is all achievable and supporters know that my reputation is for delivering on my pledges. Ultimately, as in the previous locally-based takeover in 2006, it is the will and ambition of the fans that will influence the outcome and the fact that I have been one of them all my life gives me confidence in their judgement.