The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Derby County is not being taken over by Lion Sport: on 10 August 2026, the club said the proposed purchase of a controlling interest would not proceed and that it was off the market. Owner David Clowes explained on 22 August that Derby had expected the deal to complete on the day Lion Sport withdrew. The club said it would continue under Clowes Developments’ support.
What happened with the Derby County takeover?
Derby County announced on 10 August 2026 that discussions with Lion Sport to buy a controlling interest in the club would no longer proceed. The club said Lion Sport had given notice that it no longer wished to continue with the purchase. It also said the club was off the market and would continue operating with support from Clowes Developments. Derby County’s statement said the process had been sanctioned by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL), but the buyer’s withdrawal meant no purchase was completed.
Clowes’s follow-up message, posted by the club on 22 August, described the timing as a shock: Derby had started 10 August expecting the takeover to complete. He said he had reassured head coach John Eustace that the club’s commitment and previously agreed transfer-window budget would continue, and that he had taken Derby off the market to avoid further distraction. Read Clowes’s message to supporters.
Why did Lion Sport withdraw?
The club’s announcement does not explain why Lion Sport changed its position. It says only that Lion Sport no longer wished to continue, and Clowes said he would not apportion blame. The club also said it would offer no further comment. The proposed price and exact stake were not disclosed in the official statements, so claims about the reason or financial terms should be treated as unconfirmed.
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Is Derby County still for sale?
In its 10 August statement, Derby said it was “now off the market”; Clowes repeated that position in his 22 August message. Those statements establish the club’s public position at that time, not whether anything changed later. No subsequent sale-status change or ownership transaction is established by the statements cited here.
Who owns Derby County now?
The latest linked club accounts and Companies House control record clarify that a 2025 corporate restructure did not amount to a sale. The accounts say Derby County (The Rams) Holdings Limited owns both the club and stadium entities, and that Clowes Developments (UK) Limited owns the holding company outright. They explicitly state that the restructure did not represent a change of ownership. The club’s filed accounts describe that structure.
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Companies House’s control record lists Derby County (The Rams) Holdings Limited as the club company’s active person with significant control, with 75% or more of shares and voting rights and the right to appoint or remove directors. This is the holding-company level of the structure; the accounts identify Clowes Developments (UK) Limited as its 100% owner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was known before the Lion Sport talks ended?
Notes from a 1 June 2026 Derby County Supporters’ Board meeting said multiple parties were in conversation at that point. They described a process in which investor suitability and financial position would be assessed through the IFR and EFL process after an in-principle agreement, while Clowes Developments would decide when, to whom and how much of the club might be sold. The notes do not establish that those other parties remained interested after Lion Sport withdrew. The meeting notes are available from Derby County.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesBefore the failed proposal, Clowes had described his criteria for investment as integrity, progress, stability and sufficient financial capacity to accelerate Derby’s Premier League ambition. The supporters’ meeting notes recorded a preference for majority investment at that time. Those criteria explain the owner’s stated approach; they do not establish the terms of the Lion Sport proposal. Clowes’s earlier message to supporters sets out his investment priorities.
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Rank #4
- Football typography merchandise design. Street artist Michael Wylie's hand-drawn typography design features the legendary players, managers, songs, events and trophies that have shaped the history of derby county football club.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
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