Davies Refuses To Talk About Lack Of Signings

Forest travel to Elland Road today, for what could prove to be a season defining game against fellow promotion contenders Leeds United. Both teams have suffered dips in form of late and will be looking to get their seasons back on track.

For Nottingham Forest the international break appears to have done them no favours at all, with 2 new injuries to add to the growing list. Captain Paul McKenna and defender Paul Konchesky have now both been ruled out for the game at Leeds and further emphasises the lack of depth in the squad.

Billy Davies made it clear that his players needed the break and said they would return from it in better shape and raring to go. They may well be raring to go, but it’s debatable if they’re in better shape. A few additions during the loan window could have helped on that front, but for one reason or another, they never arrived.

The manager has been accused this week of turning down players that were made available to him, despite the fact that one of his and the fans biggest gripes, is the lack of new additions this season. The lack of depth in the current squad was a major factor in failing to clinch promotion last year and it could prove the same again this year as well, now that injuries are once again taking there toll.

In today’s NEP, Davies refused to be drawn on the reasons behind the lack of new signings, saying he preferred to concentrate on the 8 games ahead.

Davies said. ‘I am not prepared, in my contractual position, to talk about who does what; about why people came in; who we chased and who we did not chase. That is up for other people to say now. In my position, I am not prepared to discuss, at this moment in time, anything to do with transfers, loan signings, possible targets and the reasons why people did or did not come in. We will focus on the matches ahead of us, nothing else.’

Fair play to the paper for asking the question and it does deserve an answer. It’s clear from Davies’ response that he can’t say too much, no doubt on the advice of his solicitor. But, it does show that something is not quite right behind the scenes and that something needs to be sorted to get new players to sign up. It’s hard to say at present, where the blame for that lies, but the longer it goes on, the more it will hurt the club.