Hartlepool United have thanked Derby County after the Championship club gave up their share of Saturday’s gate receipts.

County officials contacted Pools on Monday morning to inform the club that the Rams would not be seeking to claim their 45 per cent share of ticket sales from the fixture – a tally of around £23,000 from an attendance of 4,860.

“It’s a wonderful gesture from Derby but not completely surprising because I knew what a great club they were already,” said Pools’ chief executive Russ Green.

“In a day when clubs at the higher level of the game are often accused of greed it’s refreshing to see Derby showing that they are certainly not motivated by money.

“There are good people running the club there and I am pretty certain they’re going to go on and win promotion to the Premier League this season.

“I would like to thank them sincerely for their generosity and wish them all the very best for the rest of the season.”

Pools chairman Gary Coxall also expressed his thanks when he tweeted: “What an outstanding gesture from @dcfcofficial. A club with real, genuine class.”