FIGHT FOR FIR PARK HOTSEAT
Ex-Steelmen gaffer Brown urges the board to push the boat out for Davies
CRAIG BROWN has urged Motherwell to push the boat out and bring Billy Davies back to Fir Park. The 52-year-old was in charge at Fir Park for almost three years before enjoying a successful career in England with Preston, Derby and two spells at Nottingham Forrest. But he’s been cooling his heels since the end of his second stint at the City Ground in 2014. Davies has been among the candidates considered for the role at Rangers and while the Ibrox club are looking elsewhere Brown – who was also gaffer at Well – insisted his old Preston pal would be the ideal man to sort out the Steelmen following Mark McGhee’s dismissal. He said: “Billy would be the outstanding candidate for the Motherwell job. “I know there was a lot of talk about Rangers but if they haven’t moved for him now I would suspect it won’t be the case. “If Motherwell could persuade him to go back they would be getting a Premier League quality manager. His CV speaks for itself. “He’s managed at some very big clubs in England and had terrific success. He took Derby to the top flight and when I was with him at Preston we took them to play-offs. “You can go back to his first spell in charge at Motherwell when he was successful as well. “I’ve got no doubt whatsoever he would be a great appointment for the club. I don’t know what he’s thinking. He may have ambitions to manage at a higher level but you can’t often pick and choose the jobs you get offered. “Motherwell can only ask the question. There could be an appeal for him to back to a club he knows so well.” Brown admitted he was stunned to see McGhee get the axe but admitted the Scotland No.2 was in trouble once the supporters lost faith. Well are just two points off bottom spot with a crucial run of games coming up against Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Rangers that could shape their season.
Brown said: “I was a bit surprised by what happened.
“I know the results have not been what Mark would have wanted recently but it wasn’t long ago they were in the top six.
“It can quickly change and it sounded like a section of the supporters had turned against him.
“It’s difficult for a board when the supporters start to turn, especially at Motherwell when they are a club where the fans have a lot of involvement.
“No one wants to see their team lose heavily as we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks with the Aberdeen and Dundee games.
“I know Motherwell have suffered a lot of injuries so you could argue there have been mitigating circumstances.
“It could well be Motherwell were worried about the threat of relegation but I thought Mark would have been given more time to turn it around.”
Several candidates have already emerged with Simo Valakari interested, Morton boss Jim Duffy linked along with ex-Hibs boss Alan Stubbs and former Well man Owen Coyle who is available after being sacked by Blackburn.
The Fir Park board are currently considering their short and longterm options and interim boss Steve Robinson is set to take charge this weekend.
The Northern Irishman is expected to be given until the summer with a view to winning the role on a permanent basis.
Stephen Craigan will assist Robinson – along with James McFadden – but the youth coach has ruled himself out of the running for the main job.
He said: “I’ve said clearly it’s not for me. I don’t want it.
“Stephen will take the game on Saturday. Myself and James will give him all the support that he needs.
“Ultimately if he wins the game he gives a proposition to the board to say, ‘Look what I can do, I can potentially take this club forward’.
“Mark had a meeting with the staff and players and said he got the sense on Saturday with the crowd after the game being a little bit unhappy. He felt it was going to be uneasy.
“It’s certainly disappointing. That’s the second time in 18 months I have been involved in someone losing their job and it’s not nice. It’s a sombre place.”
SPFL ARE SHAMEFUL