Derby were beaten by visiting Sheffield Wednesday - but the home faithful nevertheless ended their season in joyous mood by celebrating a £25million takeover of the Pride Park club.

Nearly four months after a 5-1 home win over Crewe was greeted by choruses of "sack the board" from Rams fans outraged at the running of the club by then-chairman John Sleightholme, chief executive Jeremy Keith, finance director Andrew Mackenzie and fellow board members Paul Clouting and Steve Harding, the club is under new ownership.

Sleightholme resigned earlier this month in the wake of confirmation Keith and Mackenzie were the focus of police investigations surrounding alleged "financial irregularities", although the chairman was himself not implicated.

And following the takeover of the club by a consortium of six businessmen fronted by former Rams vice-chairman Peter Gadsby, Keith and Harding opted to resign while Clouting and Mackenzie were removed from their posts.

And although it was another Derby old boy, Marcus Tudgay, who netted the opener before Leon Best's deflected goal condemned the Rams to defeat, the installation of Gadsby as chairman and the demise of the club's previous regime proved worthy enough excuse for an afternoon of Derby celebration.

The Rams had fallen behind after Wednesday were awarded a free-kick tight on their right flank with Darren Moore adjudged to have fouled Deon Burton, another former Derby player.

And after Jon-Paul McGovern's low centre eluded defenders' attempts at a clearance, Tudgay struck from the centre of the penalty box to give the Hillsborough club their fifth-minute lead.

Neither side proved capable of creating another goalscoring opportunity until the Rams won a free-kick of their own, this time on the edge of the Wednesday penalty area, with 23 minutes gone.

And though Morten Bisgaard curled his right-footed effort around the defensive wall, goalkeeper Scott Carson was down quickly to his left to punch the ball away.

Next, Johnson spooned a cross to the back post but neither Adam Bolder nor Moore could make a connection before Lee Camp saved from Tudgay at the other end.

Derby's Paul Peschisolido, who needed extended treatment towards the end of the first half, was replaced by Lee Holmes for the start of the second period which proved a pedestrian affair until Burton O'Brien burst forward through the left channel and unleashed a powerful low drive which Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp was relieved to see skid narrowly wide of the far post.

Michael McIndoe replaced Bisgaard in the 64th-minute before O'Brien chanced his arm from a similar position and with a similar result.

With little more than 15 minutes remaining, McIndoe and Marc Edworthy combined on the Rams right with the latter crossing for Tommy Smith who could not finish from close range.

And then substitute Best, on as replacement for McGovern, held off Lewin Nyantanga before firing a deflected effort which looped over Camp in the 85th minute.

Teams

Derby Camp, Edworthy, Moore, Nyatanga, Michael Johnson,Bisgaard (McIndoe 64), Bolder, Seth Johnson, Barnes, Smith,Peschisolido (Holmes 45).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Thirlwell, Jackson.

Booked: Barnes, Bolder.

Sheff Wed Carson, Diallo, Bullen, Coughlan, Spurr,McGovern (Best 78), Folly, O'Brien, Tudgay, McAllister, Burton.

Subs Not Used: Adamson, MacLean, Collins, Partridge.

Booked: McAllister, Diallo, Spurr.

Goals: Tudgay 5, Best 85.

Att: 30,391

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).