NOTTINGHAM FOREST legend Kenny Burns believes Billy Davies is the man to lead the Reds out of trouble in the Championship because of his balanced style of management.

The Scotsman's managerial career started at Motherwell before leading Preston to the Championship play-offs and then steering Derby to the Premiership.

He was sacked on November 26 last year after a disastrous start in the top flight but double European Cup winner Burns believes life has got too easy for players under Colin Calderwood.

And he believes Davies would be the man to change that and grasp his first job in more than a year by leading the Reds out of trouble with half the season still to go.

Burns said: "Billy Davies did a superb job at Preston and then took Derby into the Premiership so his pedigree is good at this level.

"But Billy is a big ball of fire, he takes no nonsense but at the same time is very fair. He will reward those with a good attitude who work hard and deliver what he wants.

"There would be no more Easy Street. And that is what it has been at the City Ground for far too long.

"He would come in and say 'do this or get lost', there would be no messing. But he would not bully players either, he will get their respect.

"But they should be doing what the manager says, they should respond to the boss. At the end of the day they get paid a hell of a lot of money and now they will have to earn it.

"Billy would have a big task on his hands and would need to bring in his own men, hopefully experienced players with a proven record in this division. That is lacking in a big way.

"At Derby, in the Premiership, he struggled and he made some questionable signings. But I am sure he will be the first to say he has learned lessons and had time to take stock during his year out of the game.

"Calderwood was too negative. I do not think you would see that under Billy and hopefully he would be the man to guide Forest to safety because relegation to League One would be a catastrophe.

"Hard but fair is what he is about and that is exactly what the club needs."

Burns has been an avid watcher as Forest's return to the Championship has gone from bad to worse after a three-season exile in League One.

Calderwood's two-and-a-half season tenure is now over but despite winning automatic promotion on the final day of last season, Burns said he only had himself to blame after being ousted from the hot seat.

Burns said: "At the start of this season he made signings and knew the likes of Joe Garner would not be fully fit for months but did he go and bring people in for the short term? No. That was always a mistake and cost them.

"He said judge him after ten games and Forest were rock bottom. It has to be time for change.

"Talk is cheap and the club needs action and Calderwood was not delivering that. The Forest manager's job is a great one to have but for me he has always been too negative.

"I think his biggest downfall this season was waiting for his new signings to get fit. He should have brought others in but some signings have not been good enough like Lee Martin.

"But his tactics have always been questionable and that is why a lot of fans have never really taken to him."

And the former Reds defender said semi-final play-off defeat to Yeovil in Calderwood's first season is a dark day he has never been able to shake off.

"I know he led Forest to promotion last season but what always sticks with me is that semi-final defeat to Yeovil back in 2007," said Burns. "We were 2-0 up from the first leg and then 3-1 on aggregate in the second but he takes strikers off for defenders and we end up losing. Nobody will ever forget that.

"I think that summed up his tactics.

"I think a lot of people have lost patience with his methods and tactics.

"I remember going to watch Forest at Northampton last season, his former club, and their fans were singing "we're not boring anymore". I mean, what does that tell you?

"But now we have to look forward and in Billy Davies, I believe Forest would have a manager who can lead them to safety and avoid the unthinkable happening – relegation to League One just 12 months after finally getting out of there."