Derby CEO Hails Glazer Impact

Derby County chief executive Sam Rush has hailed the influence of the late Malcolm Glazer and his family following the American’s death.

Glazer, a veteran businessman whose family business owned Manchester United and NFL side the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, passed away at the age of 85 on Wednesday.

Championship side Derby, who just missed out on promotion to the Premier League this season with defeat to QPR in the play-off final, are one of a number of clubs taken over by American consortiums in recent years, inspired by the Glazer family’s success.

“Many followed after the Glazers bought United, and they all had different models,” Rush told Sky Sports.

“It is hard to compare any club to Manchester United because of the way they operate. They have all sorts of revenue streams, and of course their on-field performances are greatly different.

“We’ve had many examples since the Glazers and Derby are one of them. Our group has been together for many years and fingers crossed it will be for many years to come too.

“The Glazers were certainly the first to come in and Manchester United are a club we all look at from a far with great admiration.”

The Glazer family bought United for £790million in controversial circumstances in 2005, bringing with them huge debts of up to £525million.

Throughout their nine-year ownership of the club, which has included five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League, the Glazers have managed to service that debt down to under £380million.

Mr. Glazers’ two sons, Avram and Joel, have taken a more direct role as United’s owners in recent seasons, with their father having been ill for some time, and will continue to do so following his passing.

United, under new manager Louis van Gaal, are set for an eventful summer in the transfer market as they look to re-establish themselves among the top clubs in Europe, having missed out on next season’s Champions League.