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Ex-Bolton Wanderers and England striker Kevin Davies considering a move into coaching after gaining UEFA A Licence
KEVIN Davies is ready to take the plunge into coaching – and now he has the badge to prove it.
Now in possession of his UEFA A Licence, the Wanderers legend is contemplating whether life on the touchline is right for him in 2017.
Davies hung up his boots just over a year ago at Preston North End and has since kept heavily involved with the game through punditry work.
This week he completed the final assessment for his A Licence alongside Paul Scholes, Trevor Sinclair, Darren Fletcher and another ex-Wanderer, Matt Jansen at Blackburn Rovers and is now qualified to coach anywhere outside the Premier League.
Davies, who has also been studying for a Masters in Sport Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University, has enjoyed life in retirement but admits the lure of returning to the game is strong.
“I haven’t been twiddling my thumbs,” he told The Bolton News. “But I’m at the stage now where I want to put a plan in place. Emma (his wife) is always saying I should do something which invigorates me and that I can throw myself 100 per cent into, and that might well be coaching.
“I have spoken to quite a number of people in the game, had some offers, but I think after Christmas is over I’ll be deciding which path I take. I’m quite excited by it.”
Davies did some coaching with the Wanderers Under-13s to help with his badges and has also been invited by Blackpool boss Garry Bowyer to work with the seaside club’s strikers.
He also had the chance to link up with a League Two club as assistant manager last week.
The former England striker has enjoyed his return to academia in the last couple of months and believes the experience is making him learn more about himself.
“We have been looking at leadership profiling and really analysing what kind of person you are, your strengths and weaknesses, and it has made me open my eyes,” said the 39-year-old, who made more than 400 appearances for
Wanderers. “I don’t think I can go any further in my career unless I sort myself out, be more positive.
“I’ve tended to let things settle, fall on to my lap a bit. And the experience has made me realise I need to get myself out there more.”
Davies remains unsure whether a leap straight into the pressure cooker atmosphere of Football League management would be right for him at this stage but is open to offers.
He has sought the advice of several friends in the game and feels his experience of covering lower league football for the last 12 months as a commentator will stand him in good stead.
“I have really enjoyed covering the National League and learning more about the clubs lower down the pyramid,” he said. “I don’t really have my sights fixed on any particular level of football I’d like to get involved with, full-time or part-time, just as I don’t know whether I’d be better suited to being a coach, or something more on the admin side.
“I feel like I’ve got plenty to give and I’ll be talking with people like Sean Dyche and Phil Brown to ask their thoughts.
“You look at management and it can be very severe. The whole Gary Rowett thing at Birmingham City this week makes you wonder – the turnover is quite ridiculous.”
Davies started his coaching badges while still playing at Bolton and wants to be ready in the New Year if the right opportunity comes along.
“You have to be prepared and I’ll be looking to go into a couple of clubs to see how things operate, think about who I’d like to work with if a chance did come along, that sort of thing,” he said. “Going back to the course, it has had a really positive effect on me. I’ve always had ideas but maybe let them fall away in the past – now, if I am going make a good go of this, I have to go and find something which is right for me. I’m really looking forward to the New Year.”
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KEVIN Davies is ready to take the plunge into coaching – and now he has the badge to prove it.
Now in possession of his UEFA A Licence, the Wanderers legend is contemplating whether life on the touchline is right for him in 2017.
Davies hung up his boots just over a year ago at Preston North End and has since kept heavily involved with the game through punditry work.
This week he completed the final assessment for his A Licence alongside Paul Scholes, Trevor Sinclair, Darren Fletcher and another ex-Wanderer, Matt Jansen at Blackburn Rovers and is now qualified to coach anywhere outside the Premier League.
Davies, who has also been studying for a Masters in Sport Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University, has enjoyed life in retirement but admits the lure of returning to the game is strong.
“I haven’t been twiddling my thumbs,” he told The Bolton News. “But I’m at the stage now where I want to put a plan in place. Emma (his wife) is always saying I should do something which invigorates me and that I can throw myself 100 per cent into, and that might well be coaching.
“I have spoken to quite a number of people in the game, had some offers, but I think after Christmas is over I’ll be deciding which path I take. I’m quite excited by it.”
Davies did some coaching with the Wanderers Under-13s to help with his badges and has also been invited by Blackpool boss Garry Bowyer to work with the seaside club’s strikers.
He also had the chance to link up with a League Two club as assistant manager last week.
The former England striker has enjoyed his return to academia in the last couple of months and believes the experience is making him learn more about himself.
“We have been looking at leadership profiling and really analysing what kind of person you are, your strengths and weaknesses, and it has made me open my eyes,” said the 39-year-old, who made more than 400 appearances for
Wanderers. “I don’t think I can go any further in my career unless I sort myself out, be more positive.
“I’ve tended to let things settle, fall on to my lap a bit. And the experience has made me realise I need to get myself out there more.”
Davies remains unsure whether a leap straight into the pressure cooker atmosphere of Football League management would be right for him at this stage but is open to offers.
He has sought the advice of several friends in the game and feels his experience of covering lower league football for the last 12 months as a commentator will stand him in good stead.
“I have really enjoyed covering the National League and learning more about the clubs lower down the pyramid,” he said. “I don’t really have my sights fixed on any particular level of football I’d like to get involved with, full-time or part-time, just as I don’t know whether I’d be better suited to being a coach, or something more on the admin side.
“I feel like I’ve got plenty to give and I’ll be talking with people like Sean Dyche and Phil Brown to ask their thoughts.
“You look at management and it can be very severe. The whole Gary Rowett thing at Birmingham City this week makes you wonder – the turnover is quite ridiculous.”
Davies started his coaching badges while still playing at Bolton and wants to be ready in the New Year if the right opportunity comes along.
“You have to be prepared and I’ll be looking to go into a couple of clubs to see how things operate, think about who I’d like to work with if a chance did come along, that sort of thing,” he said. “Going back to the course, it has had a really positive effect on me. I’ve always had ideas but maybe let them fall away in the past – now, if I am going make a good go of this, I have to go and find something which is right for me. I’m really looking forward to the New Year.”
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