“My career will always have Southampton as a major influence, Davis told the Daily Echo.
“Having a testimonial after ten years and seeing the club finish in the top spot was the best way it could have ended for me on the field,” the player said.
“I sincerely appreciate the way that worked out. Saints supporters are aware that I have always valued them.
“Now, I wouldn’t say you’re starting over when you go into management; rather, it’s about forging a new path for your career.”
After his playing career ended, Davis continued to work with the team while pursuing his UEFA Pro Coaching License.
Following a brief period of time spent in the background, Davis joined the first team as a coach in December 2017 and stayed in that position for over five years until he was fired in an attempt to make one last move regarding Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Four games into his inexperienced managerial career, Davis finds himself in need of the wisdom of past managers, ranging from Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman to George Burley and Nigel Adkins.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work under and with some incredibly talented coaches and individuals,” Davis remarked.
Every coach reaches a point when they want to go their own way, yet I frequently find that my goals are shaped by my memories of past managers.
“”I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had those experiences, and from a leadership perspective, we had individuals such as Les Reed, Ralph Krueger, and Ross Wilson who demonstrated the value of treating people with respect.”
He went on, “You always consider the lessons that your experiences have taught you. As a player, there were moments of difficulty and I found myself in some trying situations.
At debriefs and team meetings, we communicate to the group that we still have a strong connection to our experiences as players.
“I was sat in that chair, studying the intricacies on the screen, and it doesn’t seem like that long ago.
After Richard Hill’s departure, the Spitfires were without a win in 11 games across all competitions and in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle. Some impressive early results have aided the process, but Davis has become comfortable at Silverlake Stadium. “We are trying to create an environment where the team are in it together, it’s their game plan to perform and it’s right to ask that question they might have,” Davis acknowledges.
Although the approach has benefited from some impressive early outcomes, Davis has become accustomed to his job at Silverlake Stadium.
Davis’s initial contract expires at the end of the current campaign. Although extending that is something that all parties are interested in, the club’s National League status must come first.
Looking back on his first month as CEO, the 47-year-old insisted, “I feel like I have been here a lot longer.”
“The first few days were crazy; we had a call on Saturday night, met on Sunday, and on Monday we had a practice in preparation for the game on Tuesday.
“I believe that being familiar with the region was helpful, as I have visited Silverlake previously, taking my kids there to watch games.
Davis has an eighteen-year-old son, Sonnie, who plays right-back for Southampton’s under-21 youth team right now with his shirt tucked in.
“I took Sonnie down there because I didn’t want him to be blinkered by the Premier League and wanted him to see the different levels of football,” he said.
“It felt like I had been there for a lot longer when I first walked into the office and got to know the staff, including Vince (the goalkeeper coach) and Jason (the assistant).
“I felt like I knew Jason from seeing him on the touchline because I worked with Vince at the Saints. People are the heart and soul of the club, and the current staff provides continuity.”
His stay at Eastleigh has started off well, as seen by a 5-2 victory over Oxford City 48 hours after his appointment last month.
Four days later, the Spitfires won their home game against highly-favored Bromley, who were also playoff hopefuls.
But only one point has come after the other two – Solihull Moors equalized late in last weekend’s 3–3 draw at the Silverlake.
“To understand what we want to achieve as a club, we had to try and understand everyone’s capabilities,” Davis stated.
“The first several weeks were really well received, and the performances were outstanding. Nothing more could have been asked for.
“Every coach has different ideas, and we don’t have a large pool of players to choose from, so you work with the players you have.” “I like to play a high-energy, high-pressing game of football. We want to keep the ball, but you have to be aware of the limitations of the players.” “There is always lots to improve on, you’re trying to get a perfect performance and the players have found a level we can work at immediately.” Davis mentioned a number of people as essential to the operation, including the chairman, the kitman, and the club secretary. Remarkably, he listed Danny Butterfield, a former Saints teammate, as assistant manager.
In addition to making 54 appearances with the Saints from 2010 to 2013, Butterfield, 44, has recently established himself as a coach.
He spent two years as a coach in the Saints program and has had important positions at MK Dons, Macclesfield Town, and Lincoln City.
Before leaving to take a position as assistant manager at Lincoln in December 2022, Butterfield was also a very well-liked loans manager at Saints.
“Mine and Danny’s relationship is built on playing together and a friendship,” Davis stated.
“These people, along with Dan Harding, Richard Chaplow, Lee Holmes, and others, are family friends of ours.
“We have remained in contact for whatever reason, and our kids are buddies, so maybe that friendship will last forever. It’s a connection that football and teamwork have given us.
“Danny wouldn’t be with me if I didn’t think highly of him as a coach and a football guy. It’s been a terrific opportunity for us to collaborate professionally.
Similarly, if I were a different kind of person or had other ideals, I’m sure Danny wouldn’t want to collaborate with me. We have a great connection and are both open-minded men.”
With nine league games remaining, Eastleigh’s season is almost over, and they lead the drop by six points.
Following confirmation of their 11th consecutive season as a member of the National League, they will proceed with their plans for the upcoming season.
“You never know what’s going to happen in football,” Davis said in closing.
“However, I am certain that Eastleigh will benefit from my staff’s dedication and open-mindedness in creating something greater.
“We are really hoping that we can put ourselves in a position to be thinking about next season sooner rather than later.”
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