Davies: I need to know where I stand on transfer budget
BILLY Davies today called on Nottingham Forest to give him a clear budget for his planned January shopping spree.
The Reds manager hopes to avoid a repeat of last January's transfer window, when the club failed to land any one of eight potential targets – because he believes new additions will be vital in sustaining the club's remarkable recent form.
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Billy Davies
Davies wants to assemble a squad of 24 senior players to help his side retain their momentum in the Championship, after seeing them extend their unbeaten run to eight matches with a 1-1 draw at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City.
The Scot insists he has no qualms with the acquisitions panel – but he hopes the club will give him greater clarity on the kind of finances that are available to him, as he looks to add as many as five new faces.
"There is no budget here, I am told. But, having lost out on players in the past, I have made the point that there could be," he said. "We could eliminate wasted time by knowing what the budget is.
"I want to eliminate wasting time if I am recommending certain players, at certain clubs, who are on certain salaries.
"I want to know if I am wasting my time by going for a £5m player – when there is no clear budget – then go and find that we can't get him, because there isn't the money for it."
And Davies says that he wants to take on responsibility for the club's successes or failures in the transfer market.
"A manager should be a manager of every football club," said Davies, who was frustrated as City netted a late equaliser to deny the Reds all three points on Saturday.
"A manager does not want to complain about budget or financial constraint, but he does want to find out what the budget is and what he is working with.
"Then he can go and do what he does best, which is identify and recommend players.
"Then he can either get patted on the back or sacked for the job he has done. Maybe that is too old fashioned for some, but not for me.
"As I said before, my job is to recommend and nothing else. As a manager I will try to get as many as I can to compete in this division.
"If I had 24 players, I would tell you I had enough players.
"I am not talking about bringing back players who are on loan, I am talking about bringing in major signings.
"I want people with real quality to come into the squad. You can see where we are going, you can see the improvement and you can see what is going on here.
"All I can do is sit down and recommend to and advise the board. It is not my money, it is Nigel Doughty's money. We will see where that takes us. I am not going to bluff anyone."
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by paz, Spain
Sunday, November 15 2009, 8:01PM
“Have to agree with most sentiments expressed already. BD has been doing a good job so far and his own intentions were really to see us making progress this year and be in the mix at the right end of the table. This clearly looks achievable so please concentrate on this.
I like many others tho think that its below the belt, short of etiquette to be airing views in public and the discussions should be behind closed doors. If it the manager or the chairman that has to go long term then Im afraid Im with the chairman.”
by geoff germain, Springfield QLD Australia
Thursday, November 12 2009, 1:46AM
“David Pleat was a hopeless manager at Spurs . Davies should have the last say on who comes and who goes. Why Forest would waste their time with Pleat is a bit hard to fathom. Suggest he be put out to pasture.”
by Season ticket holder, the toon
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:14PM
“Shut up Billy Davies.
You have spent more than any other manager this summer, and the squad we have is fine for the moment.
Do not air your dirty laundery in public - noone appreciates it.
It is not your money so you cant demand more.”
by Bernard McGrath, Dundalk, Ireland
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 12:34PM
“I have read the artical several times and it seems to me that all Billy wants is to know how much if anything he will have spend in the transfer window. I do not think this is an unreasonable request. I would
not go out to buy something without knowing I had to spend. Would you?”
by John Brindley, Loughborough
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 10:20AM
“Smallb spot on! and CSOB and Dexter.otts
Can you imagine what would actuallt happen if Billy Davies was given full control of transfers? Our spending would make Notts County look like paupers!
The way to deal with Davies is to say - this is your budget at the beginning of the season, you now have complete control of how you spend this money but don't come back for me cos it don't exist.
'll tell you now, he'd be off within 5 minutes
Ps most clubs do not have a budget for January because it's seen as a silly time to buy anyway.”
by Percy Broadbent, West Bridgford
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 8:43AM
“I am concerned that Billy Davies is using 'The Press' to conduct his crusade for greater clarity on the finances available for more players. This surely is an internal matter and not for uninformed public discussion.
Doesn't he ever talk to his Chairman!
Incidentally, I wonder what the total wages bill amounts to for those players who rarely start a game. Apart from the clubs who were recently relegated, I doubt if any others in the Championship can match Forest's outlay in this department.
It seems strange to me that whenever players return to fitness he is, according to the press, 'faced with a selection problem' but here he is, wanting to recruit more. Where would all these players get some match-time, after all, wasn't he the one who discontinued the reserve team making it more difficult for fringe players to play in meaningful games.”
by Dexter, Sydney
Monday, November 09 2009, 10:53PM
“Agree with most of the previous comments. Billy has done a great job thus far. The young guys are growing and meshing well as a team and the results are starting to show.
However if the board is to support Billy and he gets his way to bring in a number of new faces. I think that has to raise the expectation levels again. So my message is this. Billy Great job so far but if you buy 2 or 3 more players, I want to start hearing you talk playoffs and or promotion. I don't think it will be acceptable to spend another 3 to 5 mil and still say we are not ready to mix it with the big boys.”
by mandy, southwell
Monday, November 09 2009, 9:15PM
“Cheers Grim,
I,d have thought the county fans would have had more to worry about today like a high court winding up order over unpaid tax payments.....”
by The Grim Reaper, Lower Brian Clough Stand
Monday, November 09 2009, 8:51PM
“Has Nottingham Prison had a clear out today? There are some retards & weirdos on here today. Keep up the fight Mandy. By the way you should know that "Mike, Notts" is Craig's sister.”
by mandy, southwell
Monday, November 09 2009, 8:49PM
“mike,nottm
you need to worry about yourself being removed from this site ..”