PETER Gadsby, below, the businessman who blew the whistle on the three convicted former Derby County bosses, said he was delighted with the sentences for Murdo Mackay, Andrew Mackenzie and Jeremy Keith.

He said: "I am delighted that this draws a line under an unhappy period for Derby County.

"The sentencing of people who betrayed the club and its fans provides complete vindication of the decision to bring these matters to the attention of the police. Above all, this outcome represents a triumph for the supporters. The great majority of the fans and some in the local media were, from the outset, extremely suspicious of the motives of those who took the club over, when it was forced into receivership for the princely sum of £3.

"The sustained opposition they maintained towards these opportunists was a crucial factor in creating the circumstances in which I was able to lead a group of people from the business community in a takeover that restored the club to local ownership and financial security.

"With debts spiralling past the £50m mark and evidence of fraudulent practices emerging, the club had been heading for disaster.

"There was a real danger it could have led to the most serious consequences of eventual administration and points deduction, probably leading to relegation.

"No wonder they clung to power so tenaciously and it proved so difficult to remove them."

Mr Gadsby said the part played by Mackenzie would create the strongest sense of betrayal among supporters.

"It came as a particularly unpleasant shock to find that somebody who had sat for so long in the boardroom at Pride Park was implicated in something so unscrupulous.

"A new season lies ahead and, along with supporters, I am looking forward to seeing the club's name in the headlines for all the right reasons under Nigel Clough's leadership."