RamZone asked me: “Are Tom Glick’s recent announcements regarding a money back guarantee plus his promise of investment and exciting signings a step in the right direction?”
Well if General Sports Entertainment are able to deliver on what Tom Glick has promised then it has to be a huge step in the right direction and Rams fans should be in for an exciting season in 2011/12.
There’s no doubt that if manager Nigel Clough is given enough money to spend then he should be able to attract a significantly better quality of player to the football club than we’ve been able to attract in recent seasons.
Clough says six additional players of proven Championship quality are required if Derby County are to seriously challenge for promotion next season.
I can’t disagree with that assessment as in my opinion we need two or three proven goal scorers, at least one creative midfield player, a central defender, a goalkeeper, and a left and right winger if we’re to play 4-4-2.
We also need to address the balance of the squad to ensure we have a minimum of two players for each position which means an additional full-back for each side of the field.
After two seasons of cost cutting and bargain basement transfers, why now? Is it a realisation that the accountant’s approach to running a football club without any investment wasn’t going to deliver a team capable of challenging for promotion?
Did GSE finally listen to Clough and decide their manager was right about the need to invest money on the playing side?
Is it a reflection of the fact that whilst Derby County were doing their best to live within their financial means, many of the clubs challenging for promotion to the Premier League weren’t, so we weren’t competing on a level playing field?
Or was it a knee-jerk reaction to the supporter protests, the threat of a takeover bid, and the all too real possibility of a huge drop-off in season ticket sales?
Whatever the reason, the possibility of investment for the manager to spend on transfer fees and player wages is an exciting one and already the rumour mill is running wild with almost every Championship and Premiership player out of contract this summer being linked with a move to Pride Park.
And that’s the main downside of this announcement for me. Whilst its music to the ears of Rams supporters it also means that any football club we approach with a transfer bid is going to raise their asking price because they now know we have money to spend.
As for the money back guarantee I really don’t know what to make of that. In all my time following the Rams (I saw my first game during the 1971/72 season and became a season ticket holder in time for the 1975/76 season) this money back guarantee is unprecedented.
If I’m honest, I think it’s a shrewd PR move targeted at those disgruntled season ticket holders who were seriously thinking of not renewing for whatever reason.
I’m trying not to get too excited because, after all, actions speak a lot louder than words and in recent seasons Derby County have found it difficult to land their bargain basement transfer targets.
I sincerely hope they have more success now that GSE have loosened their purse strings and given the manager the green light to target players of proven quality.
In all of this, of course, I’m assuming Derby County are still a Championship side for next season.
Ultimately though, whatever big name or unknown players Clough signs, it’s the performances of the team on the pitch, and the results they achieve, that will determine whether the summer transfer activity is successful or not.
Whatever happens I will be there supporting Derby County for another season.
I won’t be asking for my money back.
Stuart Hughes is a local writer and Derby County supporter, you can read more of his writing at http://stuarthughes.webs.com/