Rovers’ dismay at Davies’s exit

Jun 17 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE manager Ronnie Moore has expressed his disappointment at the way Steve Davies has handled his move to Derby County after the player failed to contact Rovers about his switch to Pride Park.

The Prenton Park outfit are still waiting to hear confirmation from the 20-year-old or his representatives that Davies has decided to leave the club and only became aware of his departure through media reports.

Derby’s official website issued a statement claiming that Davies had signed a three-year deal with them on June 12 but the winger has still not been in touch with either Moore or any of the staff at Tranmere to clarify his position.

Moore said: “We are disappointed about the way this has been handled by the player and Derby but no doubt this will come out in the tribunal. Given other clubs’ independent valuations of the player we are confident this will be reflected in the tribunal decision.”

Although Davies is in the final six months of his Rovers contract and is therefore allowed to talk to other clubs, his deal with Derby will officially be a pre-contract as his contract with Tranmere does not expire until June 30.

Rovers feel particularly let down by Davies given that for over a year they repeatedly attempted to persuade the 20-year old to sign a new contract, increasing their offer several times – even throughout his injury.

Davies refused all offers throughout the season, and made clear his desire to leave and was unwilling to enter into negotiations. Tranmere’s greatest offer would have put him in the top bracket of earners at Prenton Park and was one of the best offers ever made to a player under the age of 21.

As the player is under 24 years of age, he cannot leave the club on a ‘Bosman’ style free transfer and Tranmere can still demand a compensation fee.

Rovers received an offer from Derby on May 21 which was deemed unacceptable and was rejected. Early last season Leeds United made an offer for Davies of £500,000 before his injury while Championship clubs other than Derby have expressed interest at a similar level but Derby’s offer is not comparable.

If a fee cannot be agreed between the two clubs, Tranmere will take the matter to a tribunal and Derby will then be forced to pay the sum determined by the tribunal.

Moore said: “We would have loved Steve to have stayed at Prenton Park as he has massive potential. We put a lot of faith in him last summer when we allowed Kevin Ellison to leave so Steve could get more first team football.

“In pre-season (last year) he looked capable of being one of the best players in the Football League and he was in excellent form in the opening stages of the season. We made him some great offers, but there is only so much we can do to try to keep a player at the club, and ultimately the decision was his.”

Davies joined Tranmere at the age of 15 from Liverpool’s Academy where he had spent the previous six years and spent two seasons in the youth team and reserves before signing a professional contract in the summer of 2005 following impressive pre-season displays.

Davies started the first 10 games of the 2007/08 season and scored twice before suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Though he was expected to miss the rest of the campaign, Tranmere’s medical team helped him back to full fitness for appearances against Nottingham Forest and Northampton Town.