Davies future in doubt

Premier League / Editor / 29 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Billy Davies refused to commit his future to Derby despite guiding them to the Premiership with victory over West Brom in Monday's Championship play-off final.

Stephen Pearson's second-half strike at Wembley secured the Rams a place in next season's top flight but when asked if he would still be in charge at Pride Park, Davies replied: "I don't think there is anything guaranteed 100% in life.

"I have never said I am leaving but it was always my intention to get to the end of the season and have a chat."

Davies' comments have cast a shadow over Derby's return to the Premiership after a five-year absence and they are the early 1.65 favourites to be relegated in Betfair's developing Relegation 2007/08 market.

Davies signed a three-year contract when he left Preston in June 2006 but reports of a strained relationship with managing director Mike Horton have raised a question mark over his future at Pride Park.

"I am not prepared to discuss it at the moment and I am not prepared to go into specifics," added the Scot.

"There is a lot of talking to be done. But I am certainly delighted to be taking the club into the Premier League and we will have a discussion with people at the club and we will see what happens after that."

Derby will join Birmingham and Sunderland in the Premiership next season and the pair are trading at 2.14 and 5.3 respectively to be relegated, with Wigan (2.24) and Fulham (2.8) also fancied by punters to exit the top flight.

The Rams are also the 2.42 favourites to end next season as the Premiership's basement club in an emerging Rock Bottom 2007/08 market, with Wigan next best at 3.65.