John Eustace: Swapping Blackburn for Derby ‘a huge risk’, admits new Rams boss
When asked if he could see why people view their actions as “huge risk”, Eustas replied: “Yes, they might be right. But the reason I did this is, It’s what I want to be part of.”
Eustace is in charge of Derby’s first match on Friday night at the Queens Park Rangers, the club he served as an assistant coach for four years and served as interim owner .
In his first press conference as a derby owner at Moor Farm, Eustace talked about how Rams owner David Clowes convinced him to return to a The club, where he ended his career ten years ago.
Clowes is a real estate developer who lives and works in Derby County and has pulled the Rams out of administration in 2022 – one of the club leaders involved in the negotiations.
When BBC Sport asked about his conversation with Blackburn owner Venky’s (an Indian poultry company run by the Rao family), Eustas responded over the past week: “Yes, I have it.
He continued, “But I don’t want to do one big thing from it.”
“I met David, what an absolute gentleman he was. He was a big fan of Derby County and when I talked to him he sold me this project.
“Of course, it’s not all about the owner. It’s a former club (for me) and I had two really good spells there, I love it, and now that allows me to be with people who obviously care about it. Grow the club together and care about the fans.”
Although Eustace admits that Derby’s fight to avoid relegation will be “down to the wire” – the Rams are just above the down zone on goals, he is convinced he is a Clubs that can return to the Premier League in the future.
They last appeared on top flight 17 years ago, in his second player at Derby, who helped them get the game in a win back in the Premier League – in the 2014 playoff final Lose to Queens Park Rangers.
“When I talked to David, the long-term vision of the football club was very exciting,” Eustace said.
“I know Derby very well. I have players here for a few years and the support is very good. The opportunity to build and grow players over the years has been a very exciting challenge for me.”
