I’m out in the cold
SATURDAY SITDOWN
“I’ve been trying to keep out of my wife’s hair and give her some peace by playing sport – tennis, squash, badminton, golf.
“I take in as many games as possible and it’s nice to watch for once without pressure. I’ve tried to use it as a tool for my own development, rather than taking in games for their entertainment value alone.
“I sit there asking myself, ‘What would I do in this situation?’ What system would I play, who would I substitute, what would I change about the shape? Right or wrong, for once it doesn’t matter.”
Davidson was under no pressure to quit St Johnstone last season, where he was No.2 to Tommy Wright. But the chance for the ex-Blackburn defender, who also coached Scotland with Gordon Strachan, to team up with former Leicester team-mate Rowett at the Potters was too tempting to refuse.
Rowett was a young, up and coming manager with experience of the Championship with Birmingham and Derby. But Davidson said: “There was a big turnaround and no one can realise how tough it was.
“It was a big risk for Gary to BY GARY RALSTON make that move because Derby finished in the play-offs last year.
Davidson said: “We were playing some really good football at Stoke but just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. We played so many games we should have won but drew.
“We lost three in 18 and were approaching the transfer window. The first six months in a new job are always the most trying.
“Teams that come down from the Premier League generally struggle because they’re not used to the pressure and there are some huge clubs in the Championship – Leeds, Forest, Aston Villa. We thought we’d started to see light but our poorest performance of the season on Boxing Day against Birmingham saw the fans turn. Not getting the chance to continue what we were doing was most disappointing as we felt we were on the right track.”
He remembers fondly the time he and Alec Cleland had to wash the strips at St Johnstone because kitman Tommy Campbell was poorly, a stark contrast to the English game he left as a player with Preston in 2011.
Davidson said: “Tommy (Wright) said I had to go, it was too good an opportunity, so there are no regrets. I’d liked to have been there longer but I’ll learn from the experience.
“It opened my eyes to different styles of football and levels of players and what they want and expect. How do you motivate someone who is earning very good money?
“It’s different in Scotland, where players don’t earn as much and part of their salary is related to their win bonus so they want to perform. “Those days are gone, in England at least, because players can shrug their shoulders and walk out knowing they’re still on good contracts. “I’ve had to dust myself down but I’ve learned loads about dealing with players from different levels, so Stoke was a positive and it has given me a drive to succeed at a higher level. “You can talk about philosophies and styles but for me it has always been about winning. I like to win, even if I’m playing softball with my kids.” Or tennis with his mates. You suspect he won’t be out of work long enough to pore over Murray’s performances if he makes a comeback in the summer. Davidson said: “Let’s wait and see. “I enjoy the assistant’s role but if the opportunity to manage arises I’d love to have a go.”
CALLUM DAVIDSON