They say you never really lose it.
Billy Davies is out to prove exactly that. It has been a number of years since the former Derby County, Motherwell and Preston North End manager last took control of a changing room team talk.
His last rousing speech – surrounded by a squad of players, that is – was back in 2014 when he was in charge of Nottingham Forest before he would ultimately leave the club.
The handful of years since? Family issues the manager has had to deal with, Covid-19 shutting the world down. Clubs seemingly unwilling to take another chance on a man, perhaps a misunderstood one, a coach with a lot to offer and a successful track record. Promotions and play-off victories tell you that.
What the 60-year-old former Rangers and Leicester player was doing was quietly sharpening his tools. A lengthy tour of Portugal’s top clubs was on the agenda and had been for some time and was a trip he was finally able to make this year.
Benfica, Sporting CP and the national team complex were all scoped out. The chance to really learn how the rest of Europe works and lives was too good an opportunity to pass up.
And in an exclusive sit-down with Not the Old Firm, Davies explained how he has expanded his knowledge of the game in a bid to have the best chance at success when he does return to the game.
“It has been refreshing to take a step back and gather your thoughts,” Davies said. “Build upon what you already know and go speak to people and get that opportunity you don’t normally get when you’re in the crazy world of football!
“It’s important that you get all the club visits, you speak to the managers, chief executives, coaches, head coaches, the general managers to find out about structures and clubs. You watch the training sessions to see what’s going on. That adds to your qualifications like the Liverpool University diploma in football management, it’s all very relevant to when you step back in. That you’re knowledgeable, you’re up to date.
Billy Davies wants a job in management after leaving Nottingham Forest in 2014
“I went to see Santa Clara against Estrela and I met a player from each team. Gabriel Silva and Nani who previously played at Manchester United. I had a great conversation with the CEO. That visit, to get there and be in and amongst all that… watching how they prepare, how they are before and after the game how they do their work, and the CEO was very open.
“Then we went to Sporting Lisbon against AVS where I heard the most incredible rendition of ‘My Way’. It was absolutely phenomenal. The ground, you can see why they’re doing so well.
“We had a great visit to the Portuguese national training complex. I just missed my old player at Motherwell, Roberto Martinez, by a day! But we were given a great tour.
“Then the best was we visited Benfica’s training complex and met Bruno Lage the head coach. We watched training and spoke to their people in relation to the club.
“We looked at their academy and whole structure in terms of how they work, their living accommodations, how the young players prepare. Kitchen areas, chefs, the type of food… it was incredible, I could go on and on. It was a different culture, different approach. It was refreshing. The facilities are out of this world.”
Football is a universal language. Another cliché perhaps, but it’s a mantra Davies lives by. Changing room etiquette might have changed, youngsters may no longer polish the first-team boots. The kids now have agents, Ferraris, Gucci bags.
But at the core of the game, Davies is convinced it all remains very much the same as when he left it. “I don’t think it’s changed too much. It’s changed in terms of the people in the changing rooms and things but in relation to stadiums, preparation, disciplines, man management, motivation of players, all these other organisation skills, nothing has changed as far as I’m concerned.
Davies has held talks with clubs about management but they didn’t suit
“People who have come into the game have changed, but motivating a team, motivating players, making players better, turning finances in clubs around and winning matches, that’s still where it was.
“As much as we can all try and find a magic potion – away back to the Jock Stein and Bill Shankly era – these managers produced players and managed to win big results and big trophies, that’s why the game will always be about players, coaching and results.”
Neutrals might point to the lengthy stint out of the limelight as a negative, but for Davies it has been a patient necessity. He hasn’t sat still.
His win percentages from the likes of Forest, PNE and Derby County still stand up against the best of them and he remains proud of that fact. “I do feel that I’ve got the experience, the enthusiasm and the passion and will to win, the desire to get on the training pitch to take warm-ups and that, you just don’t lose that. That’s in your blood and something I’m delighted to very much have,” he added.
“This is a results driven business, it’s all about stats, points. People can have their own opinions, I’ve got no problem with that. But they can’t have their own facts. It’s all about results. I’m very proud with the start that I had with all these clubs, we’ve left them in fantastic places and have done a very commendable job at every club I’ve been at. I’m delighted with that.
“Why have I not had a crack at any club recently? That’s a question for other people. It depends on the type of manager they (clubs) want to bring in, what are their objectives? Is it about results, is it about winning, getting to playoffs, getting promotions, getting to cup finals… all these questions for other people to ask.
“I believe the most important thing for me is to keep evolving, keep learning. Keep speaking to different people in this evolving game.”
So what next?
Davies has had discussions with clubs about a return to football, but things have never quite lined up. Still, he refuses to shut himself off to anything.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  CelticCeltic | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 21 | 21 |
| 2 |  AberdeenAberdeen | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 21 |
| 3 |  RangersRangers | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 |
| 4 |  MotherwellMotherwell | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 |  Dundee UtdDundee Utd | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| 6 |  ST MirrenST Mirren | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 8 |
| 7 |  Ross CountyRoss County | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 7 |
| 8 |  DundeeDundee | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 6 |
| 9 |  KilmarnockKilmarnock | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 6 |
| 10 |  HibernianHibernian | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 5 |
| 11 |  ST JohnstoneST Johnstone | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 19 | -11 | 4 |
| 12 |  Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 2 |
“I’m open-minded. Whether it’s working in Scotland, England or anywhere else. That’s why it was so important to go over to Portugal, in the next few weeks I’ll be going to Austria to visit a few clubs.
“I’ve had some conversations that maybe just haven’t come to fruition. But I’m really excited and ready to go and create new memories. There’s no point in looking back for too long, it’s about moving forward and hopefully getting success in whatever the next challenge is.
“In among all that I’m mentoring which is important to me to help young people. Off the field stuff is important to me as well with the rules and the regulations. Then I’ve got the great management team we’ve got with Superior Sports Management and Lee Doyle that we’re working with.
“I’m now looking at the bigger picture for a modern day manager, which is very important.”