/world sport
LONDON, England -- Struggling Derby County have become the fourth English Premier League club to be taken over by American owners.
Adam Pearson has achieved his goal of bringing new financial backing to Derby.
The new owners have yet to be revealed but the club, who are eight points adrift at the bottom of the table, will announce the details at a press conference on Monday.
"The takeover deal has been completed and Monday is going to be a very important day for this football club -- there's a bright future ahead," chairman Adam Pearson told the Midlands outfit's Web site.
"It is a takeover in relation to shareholdings, but the spirit of the club will be maintained and I will be here as a significant shareholder and there will be involvement from the present board.
"All that I can say is that it is an American investment and American money that is coming into Derby County, but the heart and soul of the club will remain in Derby."
Pearson, formerly owner of first division club Hull, moved to Pride Park in late October last year after buying out Peter Gadsby's majority shareholding following a failed $6 million bid to take over Huddersfield Town.
He announced that his goal was to bring in new funding for the club, and he sacked manager Billy Davies a month later after the Scot complained publicly about a lack of resources to buy new players.
Pearson brought in former Wigan manager Paul Jewell, who has made several signings during the January transfer window.
Derby have a reported $50 million debt, and are in need of a financial injection if the club are to survive the imminent drop from England's top flight.
Pearson said of the Americans' takeover: "It will add new financial firepower to the club. The aim will be to establish the Derby County brand worldwide through successful alliances with sporting teams in the United States, the Far East and Africa.
"The key aim, though, is to continue to build the infrastructure of the club at Pride Park and develop a squad which is renowned as a Premier League force." E-mail to a friend 
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