Derby vow to refund disgruntled season ticket holders

We are not satisfied. We need better players. That's going to cost money and that money will be spent

Derby chief executive Tom Glick

Derby County have offered season ticket holders a money-back guarantee if they are upset about the club's transfer activity during the close season.

Chief executive Tom Glick has vowed to give disgruntled Rams fans refunds on their tickets at any point before the new campaign gets underway in August.

Glick told BBC Radio Derby: "If you are not happy with the side we put together, you can get your money back.

"It's about holding us to account and supporters judging us by our actions."

Glick also said supporters will also be given more time to decide if they want to renew their season tickets for the 2011/12 campaign.

"We have pushed the deadline for renewal on to 15 May because supporters have been concerned about what division we will be in," Glick added.

But he was confident the club will not need to see through their pledge to refund season ticket sales to those supporters who feel the club show a lack of ambition during the summer.

"We just want people to judge us by our actions," Glick added.

"We know we are going to put together a better team, with better players that will require additional investment.

"We are aware of how supporters are feeling. We know people are not as excited as we want them to be.

"They want a better squad, we expect a better squad and we are not satisfied.

"We need better players. That's going to cost money and that money will be spent this summer."

Glick said the while he understood fans' frustrations, the American owners had a duty to ensure the long-term stability of the club.

Nearly all of the club's biggest wage earners from the ill-fated season in the Premier League have left Pride Park. And the club's losses have dropped from nearly £15m in 2009 to just over £2m in 2010.

Glick insisted the Rams were in a healthy position, despite the financial results.

And while acknowledging that no loss is a good loss, he said significant investment and progress had been made.

"The club is in great shape right now," he added. "But what it now needs is some extra investment to push on.

"Could we have been performing better on a balanced budget? Yes, we probably could have.

"We take these lessons on board and now we go forward and put together a more exciting and winning squad. It will require more money and we are prepared to do that."

Derby have been steadfast in their support for manager Nigel Clough this season, despite some turbulent times.

The owners have done too much hard work to get this club shaped up and in a good position to stop now

Tom Glick

The Rams looked set to challenge for automatic promotion from the Championship in November but a disastrous run has seen them flirting with the relegation places.

However, Glick believes Clough's side will be firmly involved in the play-off spots next term.

"The top six is the objective," Glick said. "We are going for promotion, we expect to be a top-six side.

"If we don't go up next year, we expect to be continuing to be in that position until we get through."

And he promised that the owners were not losing interest or enthusiasm.

"They are determined," Glick said.

"The owners have done too much hard work to get this club shaped up and in a good position to stop now and we are actually not as far away as it might seem."