Billy Davies finally gets the push, by mutual consent of course!
Last updated : 26 November 2007 By Rams Mad Editor
 | From this to the sack. Billy Davies a victim of his own success |
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Derby County have finally had to bow to the inevitable and sack manager Billy Davies. The official stance is that Davies left by mutual consent but poor performances and heavy defeats put the 43 year old under intense pressure.Davies may have sealed his own departure with his comments of wanting six player during the January transfer window to enable him and his team to compete at the highest level. Rams Chairman Adam Pearson has publicly stated that Derby will not be spending much during the period.
Fans are left to ponder what happens now. Kevin Thirwell the Rams Academy boss has been confirmed as acting manager for the weekends clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The vacant managers job would have fell to assistant David Kelly but he has also left the club along with several other backroom staff, including Craig Brown. The majority of those leaving were brought into the club by Billy Davies after he left Preston.
First team veteran players Darren Moore and Matt Oakley will also assist Thirwell in running the playing side of the club until a replacement can be found for Davies.
Fans are divided over the shock news of Davies's departure. Many are thankful to Billy for his efforts in turning a poor Championship side into a Premiership outfit in just 12 months. Davies may have been a victim of his own success and expectations of the fans to stay in the Premiership may have been too high for a club that was reputed to have a three year plan to get them into the Premiership.
 | Gary Johnson one of the front runners for the Rams hot seat |
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The search will now turn to who will be willing or able to take over in the very hot seat left by Billy Davies. The rumour mill has started immediately and Bristol City boss, Gary Johnson has already been mentioned. Johnson has International management experience with Latvia but has yet to manage in the Premiership. Paul Ince is another candidate for the job but many would like to see experienced Premiership management take over, Steve Maclaren could also be a possibility with his wealth of International and Premiership experience and old timer Joe Royal is also being talked about. Top of the pile may however be Paul Jewell, He is the same age as departing boss Billy Davies but also has a wealth of Premiership management experience with Wigan 2001 -2007, taking the club to the Premier League and staying there last season on a similar or lower budget than he could expect with the Rams. | Maybe even this young man may be interested in the Derby Hot seat |
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The timing of the departure of Davies couldn't have been worse with the transfer window about to open in just 35 days time, so Derby County have a race for a manager before the race to secure players to help that manager stay in the Premiership...