over Leicester and these results, coupled with a 1–1 draw at Q.P.R. saw Derby finish March on a four match unbeaten run and 9 points clear of the relegation zone with just six games to play. Away from the pitch, the club was the subject of a £37m take over bid from former chairman Peter Gadsby and two other unnamed local businessmen, who expressed disillusionment with the club's American owners and revealed his intention to buy back the club, funded by equity. The bid was described in a statement released by Gadsby as "a serious and substantial one reflecting the current value of the club." He also promised an additional £5m would be made available to Clough to sign players in the summer and expressed his intention to reinitiate the Pride Park Plaza redevelopment which would "provide superb new amenities for the city and its residents, offer considerable benefits to Rams fans and generate significant revenues for the club." The bid was flatly rejected by the club, who stated ""The club is not for sale, we have received an offer, but there's no interest in selling. We are focused on running the business of a football club." April and May April opened with the best possible start as Shaun Barker's 1st half goal in a 1–0 win away to Coventry City took Derby past the 50 points mark, usually enough to secure survival, though a 3–1 defeat at home to Ipswich Town on Easter Monday meant the club was not mathematically safe. The Ipswich result was compounded by Stephen Pearson earning a two match ban after being sent off for foul and abusive language and manager Nigel Clough earning a charge of improper conduct after he was sent to the stands. He was fined £1,000 and given a one-match ban which he served during the final game of the campaign against Cardiff City. A 0–0 draw with Barnsley left the club needing just a point from its final three games to guarantee survival, which duly arrived with a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace on 17 April 2010. This meant that it was not possible for both Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday to overtake The Rams as they played each other at Hillsborough on the final day of the season and ensured safety and Derby's place in the 2010–11 Football League Championship. Safety meant that Steve Davies and Stephen Bywater were