FORMER Derby County chairman Peter Gadsby last night launched a surprise bid to buy back the football club.

The multi-millionaire developer tabled what he said was a £37m offer to the Rams' American-based owners.

At the same time, he unveiled proposals for a massive redevelopment of 70 acres of land around Pride Park Stadium, including new homes, shops, offices, a sports village and an improved road network.

But club chairman Andy Appleby insisted late last night: "The club is not for sale."

Mr Gadsby has had three spells involved in running Derby County but gave up the chairmanship after selling his majority shareholding to Hull businessman Adam Pearson in 2007.

He left the club a few months later after the takeover by US company General Sports and Entertainment.

Last night he told the Telegraph that his desire to buy it back was based upon a "lifelong love affair" with the Rams.

"I could have walked away and turned my energies and experience to something else when others failed to share my vision for the club.

"But some things are for life and that is why I am bidding to buy it back and give precedence to the football and the fans," he said.

Mr Appleby, speaking to the Telegraph from the United States last night, was adamant that the owners were not interested in Mr Gadsby's proposition.

"Point blank, the club is not for sale," he insisted.

"Yes, we received an unsolicited offer but we have absolutely no interest in selling.

"What we are focused on is running this club and today we have been focusing on getting a goalkeeper in and, of course, getting ready for the game against Doncaster on Saturday.

"I can only stress again that we are focused on this club and we are 100 per cent behind making this club a winning club.

"It is absolutely not for sale."

That rebuff, however, is unlikely to deter Mr Gadsby.

If successful, his bid would see him take a majority shareholding in the Rams.

He would be joined on the board by two other, as yet unnamed, businessmen whom he described as having strong Derbyshire connections.

He has also pledged to set up a trust, made up of supporters, which would control 10 per cent of the club and have a voice on any major issues affecting the Rams.

The proposal, which was e-mailed and faxed to current shareholders last night, is valued at £37m – a mix of up-front money to the current owners and additional payments depending upon the success of the new development scheme and the club achieving promotion.

It also includes a £5m transfer kitty for manager Nigel Clough.

Mr Gadsby says the funding is equity-based and would not introduce new debt to the club.

"The bid, which includes Pride Park Stadium and the Moor Farm training complex, is a serious and substantial one, reflecting the current value of the club, and has been submitted to General Sports Derby Partners LLC in America, the holding company for Derby County Football Club.

"The commitment to providing immediate transfer funds, a policy which reaped rewards with promotion in 2007, will give Nigel Clough the tools to do the job and put an end to a playing policy dependent on loans.

"Derby have borrowed around a dozen players already this season and that is not the way forward for a club with such enviable levels of support," he said.

Among pledges to fans, Mr Gadsby promised a review of season ticket pricing and lower-cost refreshments within the ground.

The Ashbourne-born businessman said his takeover proposal was not dependent upon being given the go-ahead for the multi-million-pound redevelopment scheme for land around the stadium and that both projects could proceed independently.

Mr Gadsby's companies have been responsible for developing much of the Pride Park estate and, in a previous spell at the club, he oversaw the move from the Baseball Ground to the current stadium.

He said it was a passion to continue the development of the area.

Among his proposals are:

Pride Plaza – a development first mooted when he was chairman of the club, and for which planning permission was granted, to build shops, restaurants and offices on land immediately alongside the stadium

Chaddesden Sidings – a joint scheme with landowners Network Rail for housing, offices, retail and a resited park and ride scheme which, Mr Gadsby says, could create 1,500 jobs

Sports Village – he wants Derby City Council to site a cycling velodrome, proposed as part of a £50m overhaul of civic leisure facilities, on the current park and ride site next to the stadium. Athletics facilities and tennis courts are also envisaged

Road network – new roads, a new bridge across the River Derwent and a one-way traffic system are proposed to tackle current congestion problems.

Initial talks have been held with senior public officials and Mr Gadsby said: "I look forward to further, productive discussions with the council."

The development proposals alone are a huge undertaking but, when coupled with plans to take over a football club, the challenge Mr Gadsby is setting is an ambitious one. He, however, is bullish.

"The funds are in place. The commitment is strong. The timetable is ready for new ownership to make an impact in time to upgrade the prospects for next season. It is all achievable and supporters know that my reputation is for delivering on my pledges," he said.

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