Asanovic70

Not if who does what was agreed and DC is happy that things are progressing as agreed and planned. Just because he isnt physically at games doesnt mean he isnt watching intently. Also how does his attendance compare to other managers?
Whatever the position previously with other managers didnt stop many of the academy being offloaded/jumping ship elsewhere did it (not saying they all jumped before people have a go)? The position with the academy is down to one man and its not PW. 

One of PW's recent interviews mentioned about what the coaching team are doing behind the scenes fans are not aware of. The state of things after admin has been much discussed so I am sure there is still much to put right. 
Also PW has a job at our club - he's not a lifelong fan who would give every second up destroying the rest of his life. I wouldnt want or expect him to have no family life.  Sometimes we need to have a sense of perspective.  Again if he's working well and as agreed with DC 🤷‍♀️

 

So much of what you post feeds into the other that you simply cannot ignore one/have one without the other. It does impact on the manager and the choices available to him.
For instance, clearly you need options on the bench for your substitutions to make a difference. How many strikers do we have? One real target-man  and our top GS has had a brilliant season, but who is more of a no.10. We've got a first eleven that is a match for anyone, but after that, little else.
Squad depth allows you to rest and rotate players & drop those out of form. Two of our key midfielders have been injured for a period of time. Unfortunately, we expect more from Jason Knight and his versatility doesn't seem to do him any his favours. Here, some criticism of the management may be due.
Compare us with Ipswich who had, I think, three strikers as options, Ladapo, Hirst & Chaplin and all of different ability, one athletic, one physical, allowing others to play off him, one small, mobile & clever (a Jamie Ward type), allowing for variation in play.
Others we signed like Barkhuizen, good honest professionals, but last season, Barkhuizen was injured for most of it (hamstrings) and maybe, like some, has felt the pace the further this one has gone on. 
The January window. Who did we bring in? Two young reserves who have made more sporadic contributions rather than sustained ones.
It's interesting to see Big Dave at Sheff W. Plus ca change, c'est la meme chose. I remember when we signed him in January 2006 as he became the first cash purchase we had made in a couple of seasons.
We are now back to that situation, a division lower, and we aren't even in the position to make a cash purchase (the luxury of choice). Yes, we have the third highest payroll, but this division is lopsided as evidenced by attendances, so we are clearly much better than most of the so-called 'lesser' teams but  still well behind those sides/our promotion rivals in terms of development, several of whom have had to go through stages of upheaval over a couple of seasons in this league to get where they are (Ipswich). Barnsley? Well, I think their squad was considerably younger than ours and more suited to the energy currently required to get out of it. Yes, Duff has certainly made more of an impact than Warne, you could argue, but if he'd been at Derby with the same squad, not sure.
 

So much of what you post feeds into the other that you simply cannot ignore one/have one without the other. It does impact on the manager and the choices available to him.
For instance, clearly you need options on the bench for your substitutions to make a difference. How many strikers do we have? One real target-man  and our top GS has had a brilliant season, but who is more of a no.10. We've got a first eleven that is a match for anyone, but after that, little else.
Squad depth allows you to rest and rotate players & drop those out of form. Two of our key midfielders have been injured for a period of time. Unfortunately, we expect more from Jason Knight and his versatility doesn't seem to do him any his favours. Here, some criticism of the management may be due.
Compare us with Ipswich who had, I think, three strikers as options, Ladapo, Hirst & Chaplin and all of different ability, one athletic, one physical, allowing others to play off him, one small, mobile & clever (a Jamie Ward type), allowing for variation in play.
Others we signed like Barkhuizen, good honest professionals, but last season, Barkhuizen was injured for most of it (hamstrings) and maybe, like some, has felt the pace the further this one has gone on. 
The January window. Who did we bring in? Two young reserves who have made more sporadic contributions rather than sustained ones.
It's interesting to see Big Dave at Sheff W. Plus ca change, c'est la meme chose. I remember when we signed him in January 2006 as he became the first cash purchase we had made in a couple of seasons.
We are now back to that situation, a division lower, and we aren't even in the position to make a cash purchase (the luxury of choice). Yes, we have the third highest payroll, but this division is lopsided as evidenced by attendances, so we are clearly much better than most of the so-called 'lesser' teams but  still well behind those sides/our promotion rivals in terms of development, several of whom have had to go through stages of upheaval over a couple of seasons in this league to get where they are (Ipswich). Barnsley? Well, I think their squad was considerably younger than ours and more suited to the energy currently required to get out of it. Yes, Duff has certainly made more of an impact than Warne, you could argue, but if he'd been at Derby with the same squad, not sure.
 

So much of what you post feeds into the other that you simply cannot ignore one/have one without the other. It does impact on the manager and the choices available to him.
For instance, clearly you need options on the bench for your substitutions to make a difference. How many strikers do we have? One real target-man  and our top GS has had a brilliant season, but who is more of a no.10. We've got a first eleven that is a match for anyone, but after that, little else.
Squad depth allows you to rest and rotate players & drop those out of form. Two of our key midfielders have been injured for a period of time. Unfortunately, we expect more from Jason Knight and his versatility doesn't seem to do him any his favours. Here, some criticism of the management may be due.
Compare us with Ipswich who had, I think, three strikers as options, Ladapo, Hirst & Chaplin and all of different ability, one athletic, one physical, allowing others to play off him, one small, mobile & clever (a Jamie Ward type), allowing for variation in play.
Others we signed like Barkhuizen, good honest professionals, but last season, Barkhuizen was injured for most of it (hamstrings) and maybe, like some, has felt the pace the further this one has gone on. 
The January window. Who did we bring in? Two young reserves who have made more sporadic contributions rather than sustained ones.
It's interesting to see Big Dave at Sheff W. Plus ca change, c'est la meme chose. I remember when we signed him in January 2006 as he became the first cash purchase we had made in a couple of seasons.
We are now back to that situation, a division lower, and we aren't even in the position to make a cash purchase (the luxury of choice). Yes, we have the third highest payroll, but this division is lopsided as evidenced by attendances, so we are clearly much better than most of the so-called 'lesser' teams but  still well behind those sides/our promotion rivals in terms of development, several of whom have had to go through stages of upheaval over a couple of seasons in this league to get where they are (Ipswich). Barnsley? Well, I think their squad was considerably younger than ours and more suited to the energy currently required to get out of it. Yes, Duff has certainly made more of an impact than Warne, you could argue, but if he'd been at Derby with the same squad, not sure.
 

Am sure the consensus at the start of the season through another poll was a Top 6 finish would be an acceptable outcome for the season. Happy to be corrected on that point though if my memory doesn't serve me correctly.
So on that basis we are still very much placed to achieve what was deemed to be acceptable outcome. 
Doesn't that then answer the question? And removes the necessity for any other polls. 

David Clowes, the man who saved Derby from extinction, wants to rebuild this Club, its reputation and integrity. Over the last few years we have been a pretty dirty corrupt commodity. Thankfully we have someone in charge who wishes to change that. He has brought in Paul Warne to assist him in this project (not an overnight flash). Mr Clowes is a very successful business man, who has obviously made good business decisions to achieve this success. No, he is not experienced in running a football club but he probably knows as much about this Club and its history over the last 2 or 3 decades as anyone. I, for one, trust his judgement.
Paul Warne is as honest as the day is long (possibly too honest for some of the feint hearted on this forum). He knows how to get out of this Division too - 3 times! For goodness sake give him time to build the squad he needs to play the type of football he would like to play. That’s likely to be energetic, full of running, high pressing, passionate football. I think that sums up Liverpool’s style.  They are not a bad example to follow. No, I not saying we are any where near as good as Liverpool - just I would not mind copying their style.
The  squad we have has some very good players in it and many,as has been mentioned, would walk into other teams. What we haven’t got as a team is balance, aggression, height and pace - to match the better teams in Division One.
There’s still a chance we could get promotion but unless the EFL loosens its shackles during the close season we will struggle next year in the Championship. I would rather take a slower, more sustained route. I am getting a bit old in the tooth and believe you have to have work and earn success - it seems some people wants instant success as a right.
No one knows, not even Paul Warne, how successful he can be at a higher level, given a reasonable budget. I sure he believes in his ability to succeed and I am sure David Clowes believes so too.
David Clowes has stated he has a 5 year plan to make Derby a competitive Championship side. I am sure he is itching to achieve this sooner but will be patient. I want my club to be successful, have integrity, good reputation and be well run. This takes time after the dreadful last few years.
Please be patient and allow this to evolve at the right pace.
 
 

Could our results have been any better or any worse under another manager, playing different formations and tactics than those we have played under Warne?
Unless someone possesses a reliable crystal ball, the answer to that question is pure conjecture.
Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is the club in a better or worse position than we thought, hoped it would be when the team lined at the start of the season. The answer to that question is probably a better indication to how we believe Warne is performing as our manager.
I can't find it but at the beginning of the season, I'm sure there was a poll asking where we thought we would finish the season.
So comparing that poll to where we actually finish, may give a better indication to how well the manager has done. Than a poll taken when we are going through a poor run of games.
Wonder what the results of poll taken in mid January would have looked like?
So thankyou for the invite but I'll gracefully decine to participate in a meaningless poll.

Success comes from hard work, tenacity, vision and guile.  Being seen as a 'big club' in our circumstances seems to be as much of a hinderance as an advantage. The weight of expectation on players and managerial staff must be nigh on unbearable.

I get your point, but then that gets into the argument about it is what you are achieving in the present which matters & not basking in past glories. The divisions are littered with clubs with illustrious histories.
It is frustrating to be where we are, but at least Derby under Mr Clowes have put a brake on things so that we didn't end up like Coventry, Bolton & Portsmouth in L2.
There are plenty of so called 'lesser' sides who have outstripped us in terms of achievement, from the likes of Swansea winning a trophy (EFL Cup) to Wigan (FA Cup), both also having a sustained spell in the PL.
I think we've got to start justifying this so-called 'top billing' by acting like a professionally well-run club. Tempering expectations also means offering the club owner etc some patience and latitude to make mistakes as well as the time to put in the right infrastructure. Patience was in supply at the likes of Brentford & Swansea.
We've have 30 years of relative disappointment & underachievement, so what's another ten to get it right?
Of course, I expect to be dead by the time we achieve it but you can't have everything.

I get your point, but then that gets into the argument about it is what you are achieving in the present which matters & not basking in past glories. The divisions are littered with clubs with illustrious histories.
It is frustrating to be where we are, but at least Derby under Mr Clowes have put a brake on things so that we didn't end up like Coventry, Bolton & Portsmouth in L2.
There are plenty of so called 'lesser' sides who have outstripped us in terms of achievement, from the likes of Swansea winning a trophy (EFL Cup) to Wigan (FA Cup), both also having a sustained spell in the PL.
I think we've got to start justifying this so-called 'top billing' by acting like a professionally well-run club. Tempering expectations also means offering the club owner etc some patience and latitude to make mistakes as well as the time to put in the right infrastructure. Patience was in supply at the likes of Brentford & Swansea.
We've have 30 years of relative disappointment & underachievement, so what's another ten to get it right?
Of course, I expect to be dead by the time we achieve it but you can't have everything.

I get your point, but then that gets into the argument about it is what you are achieving in the present which matters & not basking in past glories. The divisions are littered with clubs with illustrious histories.
It is frustrating to be where we are, but at least Derby under Mr Clowes have put a brake on things so that we didn't end up like Coventry, Bolton & Portsmouth in L2.
There are plenty of so called 'lesser' sides who have outstripped us in terms of achievement, from the likes of Swansea winning a trophy (EFL Cup) to Wigan (FA Cup), both also having a sustained spell in the PL.
I think we've got to start justifying this so-called 'top billing' by acting like a professionally well-run club. Tempering expectations also means offering the club owner etc some patience and latitude to make mistakes as well as the time to put in the right infrastructure. Patience was in supply at the likes of Brentford & Swansea.
We've have 30 years of relative disappointment & underachievement, so what's another ten to get it right?
Of course, I expect to be dead by the time we achieve it but you can't have everything.

I get your point, but then that gets into the argument about it is what you are achieving in the present which matters & not basking in past glories. The divisions are littered with clubs with illustrious histories.
It is frustrating to be where we are, but at least Derby under Mr Clowes have put a brake on things so that we didn't end up like Coventry, Bolton & Portsmouth in L2.
There are plenty of so called 'lesser' sides who have outstripped us in terms of achievement, from the likes of Swansea winning a trophy (EFL Cup) to Wigan (FA Cup), both also having a sustained spell in the PL.
I think we've got to start justifying this so-called 'top billing' by acting like a professionally well-run club. Tempering expectations also means offering the club owner etc some patience and latitude to make mistakes as well as the time to put in the right infrastructure. Patience was in supply at the likes of Brentford & Swansea.
We've have 30 years of relative disappointment & underachievement, so what's another ten to get it right?
Of course, I expect to be dead by the time we achieve it but you can't have everything.

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

I know @Carnero shared this in the admin thread but I felt it needed it’s own thread in case some people avoid the admin thread, ya know cause of all the trauma. There’s a very good interview with David Clowes given to Marketing Derby which reveals a bit more about the man, the takeover and the plans for the future;
Full version in the digital magazine here;
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/8867b12b48.html
 
and an abridged version on this link;
https://www.marketingderby.co.uk/news/the-reluctant-hero-who-brought-rams-back-from-the-brink/
Well worth a read and credit to Carnero for the original share 🐏 

As a fan, I'm impatient to have success but it's an enlightening interview such as the section where Mr Clowes actually states that he's been surprised by the success Warne has had so far. Now the interview may have been conducted before the excellent run came to an end with 3L on the road, but it does seem to indicate that the new owner expected us to mount a real challenge next season & has realistic expectations.
He also mentions about getting us back in the Champ'ship & established in five seasons, so hopefully promotion within two, maybe three seasons and then consolidating perhaps like Coventry, Sunderland & Sheff United as relatively big sides who have fallen down the divisions or been blighted by mismanagement (Coventry in particular).
I think we can use the likes of Brentford as a model. I worked in Hounslow twenty years ago when Bees United (ABeeC), I think, actually won a seat on the local council & were a club whose future was under threat & ended up putting pressure on the local council to become more supportive at a time when the club occupied a very low profile. There's been steady progress but especially in the last decade when you think how they missed out promotion on the final day to Doncaster (2012-13). A decade where they have been promoted twice & featured in two play-off campaigns in the Championship, built a new stadium and have now spent two seasons in the PL.
Brentford fans perhaps had lower expectations, and maybe that is what we need to do, temper our expectations. As Mr Clowes puts it, 'there has been more bad than good over the last thirty years and there hasn't been a lot of success...' but he praises the fans were continually sticking by the club, and it's  been a constant theme during his ownership, how much value he places on the club's support. He cannot do it alone.
It was also interesting to read early in the interview how it appears Mr Clowes has been asked a couple of years before to get involved in owing a football club & you wonder if he had been approached before by Mel Morris, but the situation at the club (its complicated finances) & the responsibility of owing it deterred him until his hand was ultimately forced by Kirchner.
It is immensely frustrating to see us where we are, but consoling, too, that we have an owner now who has a long-term vision and a proven record in his own business field, so that he can replicate, in time, something similar at Derby.

To think we were 7 days from going under makes me shudder....and now some fans are moaning that we are "only" 5th in league 1 after having 5 players in July.
I'm so grateful we have a club at all, let alone a competitive one in safe hands for once.
Thank you again Mr Clowes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I feel the lethargic football we've seen in the last month or so is really a function of the age dynamic in the squad. You just can't expect players in the twilights of their careers to match the level of intensity of sides like Fleetwood and Barnsley. To get out of the league you need a healthy mix with some players in the 25-28 range which we just don't have unfortunately due to the restrictions and whatnot. It's no ones fault really, just the reality we find ourselves in.
We won't go up this year imo and there's absolutely no shame in that, really it's probably better for the club in the long term that we have a year to really get a squad together. Our recruitment next year is going to be absolutely key, we are operating in a restricted space with the EFL plan and so it's vital we get the out of contract players we need. 

If your patience snapped today, it would suggest that it was probably never there to begin with.
We are still in the top six and still in with a chance of promotion and you think we should be considering Warne’s position?
Today was one very bad result and very bad performance in a largely positive season where the club is getting back on its feet and working under restrictions in a league that similarly big clubs under no such restrictions have laboured for years to get out of.
You’d rather us be spared embarrassment in the play-offs? You might need to take some time to cool off because you’re missing a lot of perspective.

I admire his honesty, interesting comment about training being bad yesterday, not sure what to make of that really… long season catching up with a small squad? Poor attitude after a midweek jolly to the races? Just one of them things and we move on?
For me keeping perspective is key, it was a poor performance and we’ve had a few of them over the last few weeks, BUT I’m not going to lose my mind about it.
We have a small imbalanced squad and have had some injuries and poor individual form to contend with recently. Other teams have strengthened and their squads are balanced after years of structure and recruitment a luxury we don’t have thanks to our previous owner and the catastrophe he left behind.
We’re not entitled to anything at this level regardless of our history and level of support, and yet this squad which was thrown together in the summer, along with this management team, have shown that they can win and perform consistently in this league.
The season isn’t over, it’s more than one game, and it’s more than a few weeks of poor form. Things can and probably will change, we’re still in the playoff positions with a 4 point gap to 7th. I’ll wait until the season is over to fully have my meltdown if it’s necessary (probably not in truth as we’ll win the league next year if we stop down), and even then I’ll keep some perspective and enjoy the usual fuss over recruitment and the like as that’s the rollercoaster ride of supporting this great club.
Chin up folks, we go again  ?