David Clowes

On 26 June 2022, after Clowes had purchased Pride Park Stadium,^[4] his bid to buy the club was accepted, and Quantuma granted Clowes preferred bidder status. The administrators said Clowes's offer complied with EFL insolvency policy, meaning Derby would avoid a further points deduction. The deal, and the club's exit from administration, was eventually confirmed on 1 July 2022,^[5] though some constraints on transfers were agreed by the EFL and Derby's new owners. The club's transfer embargo was finally lifted in May 2023.^[6]

In June 2023, Clowes said that had he not taken over the club, they might have entered liquidation a week later.^[7]

According to 2023 published accounts by Clowes Developments, David Clowes purchased Derby County for £13.2m and also paid Mel Morris £1 for Pride Park.^[8] Kieran Maguire, a football finance expert,^[9] described David Clowes as a "saint", following these accounts being published.^[10]

Clowes Developments are a nationwide real estate development company based in the UK. In 2022, they held over £300 million of property assets.^{[citation needed]}

David Clowes has been Director of Clowes Developments since 4 May 1991,^{[11][non-primary source needed]} and took over as Group Chairman after his father, Charles W Clowes, died in 2015.^[12][13] David's brother Thomas Clowes has been managing director of Clowes Developments since August 2023.^[14]