Derby County have today announced their financial results for the 2016/17 season – reporting another record turnover and more strategic investment on the playing side, operational functions and infrastructure of the club.


The financial year 1st July 2016 to 30th June 2017 saw a best-ever Championship turnover (in non-parachute years) of £29m, up by £6.4m on the previous year.

Sponsorship and other receipts increased by £3.2m, primarily because of the creation of Club DCFC - a new joint venture between the Club and Delaware North Companies UK Limited who, as of 1st July 2016, operate all the hospitality, events and concourse activities at the stadium.

Broadcast, ticketing and commercial revenue rose by a combined £3.2 million, £2.3m of which was due to increased broadcasting revenue.

As in the last two financial years, the Board continued with the strategic decision to further invest across the playing, operational and infrastructure areas of the Club whilst recognising it must still operate within the profit and sustainability boundaries set by the EFL.

Operational spend at the stadium and training ground spend in the year was £4.2m, with developments in this area including, new training pitches, LED perimeter pitch advertising at the stadium, together with the club’s new website and TV project.

The signing of players including Matej Vydra, David Nugent and Ikechi Anya were made during the two transfer windows in the year which boosted balance sheet intangible assets to £42.6m from £33.5m. The sales of Jeff Hendrick, Lee Grant, Will Hughes and Tom Ince in this financial year contributed to a profit on player registrations of £16.2m.

Total staff costs across the Club rose from £33.1m to £34.6m.

The average attendance for Sky Bet Championship games at Pride Park Stadium was 27,885 and not the previously reported figure of 29,085.

The overall result was a loss of £7.9m in the financial year, compared to £14.7m in the previous year.

On 3rd May 2017 the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Club was dismissed for gross misconduct and a breach of fiduciary duty. The Club’s parent company Sevco 5112 Limited, the President and Chief Executive Officer’s employer, issued proceedings against him in the High Court on 22nd December 2017. The claim relates to certain contracts entered into by the Club including:

(a) scouting and consultancy agreements which were not authorised by the Board of Directors the substance of which are currently under regulatory review;

(b) transfer fees in respect of players that were above the figure agreed by the Board of Directors;

(c) wages in excess of what was agreed with and/or notified to the Board of Directors; and

(d) the payment of excessive fees to agents which were also unauthorised by the Board of Directors.

The claim is for the sum of £6,841,107.60. The Club is also seeking an indemnity from the former President and Chief Executive Officer in relation to significant contingent liabilities that will crystallise in the future. The former President and Chief Executive Officer counterclaims against Sevco 5112 Limited for circa £2 million for breach of contract and for an alleged 5% shareholding.