Former Derby County chairman Peter Gadsby says he was "frozen out" by the new American owners because he questioned their financial commitment.

Gadsby, who left his role as non-executive director on Friday, has concerns at how the club is being run.

But the Rams have issued a statement assuring fans they are fully focused on bringing success and stability.

"Significant investment has been made and significant investment will follow," the statement continued.

"It is disappointing that Mr Gadsby has chosen to make a very public attack on the current ownership.

It is time to focus not on the vanity and egos of individuals but the good of the club as a whole Derby County statement

"Supporters should be in no doubt that the current financial position of Derby is secure and growing.

"The ownership and management team are fully committed and focused to achieving success and finally bringing the stability the club has been lacking 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."

The Rams, owned by General Sports and Entertainment, announced on Friday that Gadsby had "left his position" as non-executive director "as part of a freshening up of the board".

But Gadsby, who headed a consortium of local businessmen that rescued the club from financial ruin in April 2006, insists the club announced his departure without his knowledge.

He said: "It is with feelings of considerable regret and disappointment that I must take exception to a statement issued by Derby County on Friday, July 25 to announce that I had left my position of non-executive director.

"In doing so I also feel compelled to make public serious concerns about the running and governance of the club and to question whether any new money has been invested since the takeover by General Sport & Entertainment.

"The complimentary tone of the quotes from the club's chairman, Andrew Appleby, suggested that my departure was amicable and by mutual agreement.

"In fact the statement was issued without my knowledge or consent and followed a meeting at which it was made clear by chief executive Tom Glick and football chairman Adam Pearson that my ongoing attempts to raise important concerns about the financial governance of the club were a source of resentment to the American owners.

"In six months of attempting to fulfil the duties of my executive directorship I was not provided with a single piece of financial information and, despite my 20 years of involvement in the running of the club, neither my opinion nor my advice was ever sought.

606: DEBATE No money has gone into the club??? We have been the most active team in the transfer market Saltmartin

"I was, not to put too fine a point on it, frozen out."

But Don Amott, a current non-executive director and chairman of Derbyshire Cricket Club, feels the Rams are in safe hands.

"I have full confidence in Derby County's ownership and management team," he said.

"As a lifelong supporter I would not put my name and reputation to the ownership group unless I knew they had the best interests of the club at heart and the expertise and financial backing to take the club forward."

Gadsby stepped down as chairman in October 2007 and handed the role to Adam Pearson, who had helped revive the fortunes of Hull.

Pearson later announced there would be considerable investment in Derby from an American consortium managed by General Sports and Entertainment.

Following the takeover Pearson was appointed football chairman and Gadsby was reappointed to the board as non-executive director.