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Whos really obsessed, us or him?
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport/f...objectid=17933473&siteid=64736-name_page.html
SCOTS boss Billy Davies has revealed for the first time how Preston tried to auction him off.
The highly rated young gaffer - now at Derby - admits his time at Deepdale came to a bitter end in the summer.
He believes leading figures at North End fed rumours and rubbish to the club's supporters about his departure.
The former Motherwell manager enjoyed four successful years at Preston but got pelters when County faced his old club three weeks ago.
Davies is adamant his decision to leave had nothing to do with money and insists he turned down more lucrative offers from England and Scotland - with North End trying to punt him to the highest bidder.
He believes he's now at a far bigger club - with Derby holding real ambitions of competing in the Premiership. Billy said: "The level of abuse I got from a section of the Preston support was horrendous.
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"They've been fed some false information about why I left and that's disappointing considering what we achieved there.
"But I've also had great letters from decent Preston fans who have apologised for the abuse.
"They've been fed a myth about my reasons for going being financial. That isn't true.
"It's sad that I can't go back to the club now because they believe I left out of greed.
"The truth is I turned down better offers than Derby but this was the right career move.
"I spoke to Preston chairman Derek Shaw at the end of the season but didn't feel he'd done enough to try to keep me.
"It was as if I was being auctioned off to the likes of Nottingham Forest and Charlton.
"Charlton would have been hard. Look at what Alan Curbishley achieved - how do you follow that?
"They've been on the up for 15 years but Derby have been on a downward spiral and I feel I can turn that around.
"I didn't like the way it ended at Preston - they had no intention of keeping me. They tried to pick and choose my next club."
Davies (left) was keen on bringing Preston assistant Ned Kelly to Pride Park but the soured relationship with North End chiefs has so far halted the move.
Billy said: "I want to take Ned with me but that is proving hard.
"Now there's a Mexican standoff which is disappointing because they have pointed the finger at me.
"I'll never be able to buy a player from Preston but they are trying to get staff from Carlisle to work with their new boss Paul Simpson so what's the difference?"
After Davies replaced former Scotland boss Craig Brown at Deepdale he led them to back-to-back Championship play-off spots.
But in the summer he decided he had taken them as far as he could.
Billy admitted: "Having achieved two play-offs I felt a new challenge would be best for both parties
"With the new board at Derby this club - if I can get it moving - can reach the Premiership. After four years it was time to move on.
"Preston didn't try to even match my ambitions. They are what they are - a great club where I had a wonderful time.
"But when I look at Pride Park and the training facilities we have there I know I've made the right choice to move here.
"Of all the offers I had this was the best. The board's vision is to make it into the Premiership over a three-year period.
"That's real pressure but I'm happy with it because the resources are here. Derby are prepared to put their hand in their pockets and that excites me.
"This is a sleeping giant. We've had five managers in six years and constantly fought relegation.
"I'm aware of just how big the challenge is but I'm ready for it - we get 23,000 fans every second week in here.
"But I don't have a magic wand and it will take time."
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport/f...objectid=17933473&siteid=64736-name_page.html
SCOTS boss Billy Davies has revealed for the first time how Preston tried to auction him off.
The highly rated young gaffer - now at Derby - admits his time at Deepdale came to a bitter end in the summer.
He believes leading figures at North End fed rumours and rubbish to the club's supporters about his departure.
The former Motherwell manager enjoyed four successful years at Preston but got pelters when County faced his old club three weeks ago.
Davies is adamant his decision to leave had nothing to do with money and insists he turned down more lucrative offers from England and Scotland - with North End trying to punt him to the highest bidder.
He believes he's now at a far bigger club - with Derby holding real ambitions of competing in the Premiership. Billy said: "The level of abuse I got from a section of the Preston support was horrendous.
Advertisement
"They've been fed some false information about why I left and that's disappointing considering what we achieved there.
"But I've also had great letters from decent Preston fans who have apologised for the abuse.
"They've been fed a myth about my reasons for going being financial. That isn't true.
"It's sad that I can't go back to the club now because they believe I left out of greed.
"The truth is I turned down better offers than Derby but this was the right career move.
"I spoke to Preston chairman Derek Shaw at the end of the season but didn't feel he'd done enough to try to keep me.
"It was as if I was being auctioned off to the likes of Nottingham Forest and Charlton.
"Charlton would have been hard. Look at what Alan Curbishley achieved - how do you follow that?
"They've been on the up for 15 years but Derby have been on a downward spiral and I feel I can turn that around.
"I didn't like the way it ended at Preston - they had no intention of keeping me. They tried to pick and choose my next club."
Davies (left) was keen on bringing Preston assistant Ned Kelly to Pride Park but the soured relationship with North End chiefs has so far halted the move.
Billy said: "I want to take Ned with me but that is proving hard.
"Now there's a Mexican standoff which is disappointing because they have pointed the finger at me.
"I'll never be able to buy a player from Preston but they are trying to get staff from Carlisle to work with their new boss Paul Simpson so what's the difference?"
After Davies replaced former Scotland boss Craig Brown at Deepdale he led them to back-to-back Championship play-off spots.
But in the summer he decided he had taken them as far as he could.
Billy admitted: "Having achieved two play-offs I felt a new challenge would be best for both parties
"With the new board at Derby this club - if I can get it moving - can reach the Premiership. After four years it was time to move on.
"Preston didn't try to even match my ambitions. They are what they are - a great club where I had a wonderful time.
"But when I look at Pride Park and the training facilities we have there I know I've made the right choice to move here.
"Of all the offers I had this was the best. The board's vision is to make it into the Premiership over a three-year period.
"That's real pressure but I'm happy with it because the resources are here. Derby are prepared to put their hand in their pockets and that excites me.
"This is a sleeping giant. We've had five managers in six years and constantly fought relegation.
"I'm aware of just how big the challenge is but I'm ready for it - we get 23,000 fans every second week in here.
"But I don't have a magic wand and it will take time."
