David Clowes faces brutal Derby County decision on John Eustace

While David Clowes poured £12.75 million into Derby County during the summer, the club’s start to 2026‑27 has been disastrous under John Eustace, leaving the Rams in 22nd place and prompting a potentially brutal decision.

Summer spending and owner backing

Derby County splashed £12.75 million on four new signings – Bobby Clark, David Ozoh, Henrik Meister and Alex Mowatt – and added several loans and free transfers that will cost a hefty sum in wages. The owner has not recouped a single penny from player sales, underscoring his commitment to rebuilding the squad.

Early‑season slump and mounting pressure

The on‑field return has been bleak. A 1‑0 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion, a 2‑1 loss to Lincoln City in the EFL Cup and a 2‑2 draw with Cardiff City have left Derby with just one point from their first three league games. Subsequent setbacks include a 2‑1 opening‑week loss at Charlton Athletic, a 3‑0 home drubbing by Swansea City and a 3‑0 loss at West Ham United, dropping the Rams back into the relegation zone.

A brief respite arrived with a 2‑0 away win at Portsmouth, goals from Sammie Szmodics and Lars‑Jørgen Salvesen, but the relief was short‑lived as the team failed to score in three of their last four matches. Injuries have compounded the woes, with forwards Patrick Agyemang and Carlton Morris currently sidelined, limiting Eustace’s attacking options.

Supporters have voiced a split view. Some argue that Eustace is on thin ice and that a change is overdue, while others call for patience, describing the criticism as fickle and urging the club to stick with the manager for stability.

All of this pressure converges on David Clowes, who must decide whether to back John Eustace through the rough patch or to seek a new direction before the season spirals further.

Action Images By  Ian King PM GMT+1 Ian was born in London in 1972. From 2006 until 2021, he ran the football website Twohundredpercent, and from 2021 to 2023 he was a senior features writer for Football365. He has been freelancing since then, contributing to Fotmob and When Saturday Comes. He won FSA awards for Twohundredpercent in 2012 and 2015, and received further nominations in 2014, 2022 and 2024. Ian now lives in West Sussex with his two children.