BILLY Davies today insisted he has the battling spirit required to keep Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

The Reds manager believes the fight to keep his side in the Championship will ultimately make him a better manager.

But, in the meantime, he says he has the tenacity and determination to steer Forest through their relegation battle.

"That is my upbringing, I have always had to fight," he said. "My whole life, I have been fighting.

"Nobody has given me anything, I have had to get it myself. I will do the exact same thing here, I will fight, along with my staff.

"But this is a great managerial experience, I can tell you. This has made me a better manager. I am finding out who my friends are and finding out who, around the club, support what is going on and understand it."

While he experienced a short struggle in the Premiership before being sacked by Derby, Forest's relegation fight is largely a new experience for Davies.

"It is a completely different challenge to any other I have had," he said. "Because of the position we are in, the size of the squad and the injuries we have, because of the suspensions and the opposition we are facing – all of these things are great challenges for me. At this moment in time, I will sit back and enjoy what is coming to me.

"And, on the day I walk up those steps at Wembley, or when we go into that last game of the season and take this club into the Premiership – I will enjoy that day even better."

Davies says he is not going to be critical of anyone, given the difficult situation Forest find themselves in.

"We have played various formations, we have put square pegs in round holes – I can't lose sleep over this.

"I look at it and I say that is where we are. I am very confident we can get the points to keep us up."