Derby County pundit assesses "10/10" owner David Clowes after almost two years in charge

Derby County are closing in on their second season under the ownership of David Clowes who saved the club from extinction.

The Rams were in administration for 282 days before Clowes decided to buy the club. A lifelong Derby supporter, the owner was certain to make sure that the club wouldn't simply dissapear.

In Clowes' first season in charge, he brought in manager Paul Warne who had to rely on free agent signings for the most part as the club was still under a transfer embargo.

They narrowly missed out on the playoffs finishing seventh in League One and look to be on course for a better finish this season.

Speaking to Football League World, Derby fan pundit Shaun Woodward couldn't have been more complimentary of the Rams' owner.

He said: "10/10 for me, David Clowes can do no wrong.

"He saved the club, he's got a clear business model in place which is for us to never return to those dark days when we overspend.

"We are going to have to start living within our means, and it might take longer to where we want to be, but that's the right way to do it. We don't ever want to return to those dark days of almost losing our club."

Clowes' mantra when he took over was all about stability. He doesn't want to risk the club going down the same route that they did over the past few years.

His immediate goal is to get Derby back into the Championship where he can begin to prepare the club for a stable existence in the second tier before looking to go for promotion to the Premier League.

If Paul Warne's side do earn promotion this season, it would top off an almost perfect two years in charge for Clowes, which would further prove to the fans and himself that he was the right man for the job.