Former Nottingham Forest boss ‘ready to return to management’ after long-term absence
Latest Nottingham Forest news from NottinghamshireLive as former Reds boss Billy Davies is reportedly looking to return to management
Billy Davies is said to be “ready to return to management” almost 10 years after his last job at Nottingham Forest.
The former Reds boss had two separate spells at the City Ground after taking Forest’s fierce rivals Derby County to the Premier League in 2007.
Davies lost two successive playoff semi-finals with Forest during his first spell at the club under former owner Nigel Doughty between 2009 and 2011 before returning under a different owner, Fawaz Al Hasawi, in 2013.
The Scotsman had several clashes with the media during his tenure with claims he banned some journalists in what was called a “near media blackout”. However, others have defended him.
He left the club again in March 2014 after an eight-game winless run culminated in a heavy 5-0 loss at Derby. Davies has been absent from the game ever since.
But now the Sun claim that he is ready to return to football management for the first time since his departure form the Reds almost a decade ago. Davies was reportedly shortlisted for the Hearts job in 2017 but has been off the radar since then, however, he is now said to be hoping for a return.
Nottingham Forest plotting Sunderland transfer raid
Black Cats teenager Tommy Watson is of serious interest to Forest, who could now make a move in January
It is no secret that Sunderland have adopted a transfer policy that sees them sign promising youth talents from all across the world, but their academy has also been producing good talents for a number of years.
The likes of Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford have gone on to do great things at club and international level, whilst in the Black Cats’ current first-team Anthony Patterson is proving to be a top Championship goalkeeper.
Chris Rigg is the latest starlet to catch the attention of football fans, but there is another gem attracting interest in the form of Tommy Watson.
According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, the 17-year-old finds himself wanted by Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest, who tried to bring him to the City Ground in the summer.
However, Forest failed in their pursuits, having valued Watson at £300,000 – they are still actively interested though and are even considering a January swoop.
Who is Tommy Watson?
Joining Sunderland as a child at under-nine’s level, Watson has progressed through the ranks at the Academy of Light and made his debut for the under-18’s in October 2021 at the age of just 15.
Watson was a star at that level though despite not even being a scholar at the time, scoring eight times in the under-18’s Premier League and he continued that level of form on in 2022-23.
Hitting the back of the net five times and providing six assists in 13 matches for the under-18’s, Watson also played under-21’s football in the Premier League 2 competition, featuring in seven matches, scoring twice and assisting three times.
Watson’s form led to him making his senior debut against Huddersfield back in April, just a week after his 17th birthday, and the England under-17 international will now be eyeing up more appearances for the Black Cats.
What is Tommy Watson’s contract situation at Sunderland?
There were reportedly worries over the summer at Sunderland about Watson, who had still not committed to a professional contract with the club as he was heading into the second year of his scholarship.
Rangers and unnamed Premier League clubs were monitoring the young winger, according to the Daily Mail, but Sunderland have since been able to give themselves more security over Watson’s future.
Just days after the transfer window closed, the Wearsiders revealed that Watson had put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract, keeping him at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2026 at the very least.
