Garner declares old boss Davies is a ‘top manager’

RANGERS striker Joe Garner has described Ibrox head coach candidate Billy Davies as ‘a top, top manager’.

Davies (right) became boss in Garner’s first season at Nottingham Forest in 2008-09 and they teamed up for three years at the City Ground.

The highlight was a third-place finish in the English Championship and play-off berth in the second campaign.

Garner spent the following season on loan at Huddersfield and Scunthorpe as Davies again steered Forest to the play-offs.

They failed to gain promotion on both occasions but Davies’ work at Preston and Derby on tight budgets, along with his coaching reputation, has marked him down as a possible for the Rangers job.

‘I worked with Billy Davies for three years,’ said Garner. ‘I know him well. He is a top, top manager. I think his record speaks for itself. ‘I saw him last week doing the Motherwell game (against Rangers) for television and I spoke to him. He’s a Glasgow man. I’ve only good things to say about him.’