'Petty politics have held this club back' - Derby owners reject Gadsby claims
Derby County have responded to claims from former chairman Peter Gadsby that the club’s American owners have still to show they have invested £50million into Pride Park as promised.
And Derby’s president and chief executive Tom Glick has described some of Gadsby’s comments as ‘bizarre and inaccurate’.
Hitting back: Derby County chief executive Tom Glick (right) has dismissed claims by former chairman Peter Gadsb
Gadsby was removed from Derby’s board last Friday, then criticised the club’s new owners led by Andy Appleby, head of American sports marketing firm General Sports and Entertainment, who bought the club last January.
But Derby have hit back at the remarks in a club statement:
'The ownership and management team of Derby County are fully committed and focused to achieving success and finally bringing the stability the club has lacked for decades.
'Petty politics have held this great club back from achieving its potential.
'It is time to focus not on the vanity and egos of individuals but the good of the club as a whole.
'This ultimately is what the supporters want. It is disappointing that Mr Gadsby has chosen to make a very public attack on the current ownership of Derby County.'
Some of Gadsby’s remarks questioned whether GS&E would meet the remaining part of their finance and contractual obligation to former directors, due to be put in place by last Friday.
Glick insisted: 'This is bizarre and inaccurate. Neither was there a delay nor uncertainty and all our contractual obligations to former directors have been settled completely.'
Gadsby, who now wants to buy the club back saying he made a‘serious mistake‘ in selling up, had also said he had concerns about a number of subjects including team strengthening and management costs of the American executives, suggesting a figure of around £1.5million per year.
'I am befuddled by this statement,' said Glick.