Billy Davies: Newcastle must spend £60m to survive at the top

30 March 2010 23:28
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies has warned Newcastle owner Mike Ashley he will have to splash out more than £60million this summer to guarantee his club's Barclays Premier League future.[LNB]Davies left St James' Park on Monday night convinced he had seen the Championship champions.[LNB]Newcastle delivered a potential knock-out blow to Forest's title ambitions by beatingthem 2-0, leaving them nine points adrift of second-placed West Bromwich and facing the prospect of a play-off lottery.[LNB] Champions elect: Forest manager Billy Daviesis convinced the likes of Jonas Gutierrez will shine in the Premier League with Newcastle next season[LNB]Since a minor wobble at the turn of the year, when Forest got within touching distance of Chris Hughton's side, Newcastle have proved their Premier League class. Their last defeat was in October, they are on the brink of remaining unbeaten at home throughout the season for the first time since 1877 and Steve Harper has set a club record of 20 clean sheets.[LNB]Promotion will be guaranteed with wins over Peterborough on Saturday and Sheffield United on Easter Monday and then the speculation surrounding Ashley's future will intensify.[LNB]Let him spend: Forest boss Billy Davies believes Toon manager Chris Hughton needs £60m[LNB]He failed to sell the club for £100m in the autumn but knows promotion is likely to at least double the club's value. There are no signs that parties interested in purchasing the club then intend to make improved offers, or that Ashley is consideringa fresh sale.[LNB]The sportswear businessman was seen leaping for joy in the directors' box on Monday and he has put plans in place for next season. Former Northamptonboss Graham Carr has been scouring the country for talent and Ashley, who has already ploughed more than £300m into the club, has set a £25,000-a-week wage cap on new recruits.[LNB]Three years ago Davies took Derby to the top flight via the play-offs but, with his hands tied by a lack of investment, he quit after winning just six points in 14 games. And he warned Newcastle they need to splash out if they are to survive and compete at the top level.[LNB]'They'll be facing a very difficult task,' he said. 'When Derby went up, Tottenham were a very good Premier League side and they spent £50m on top of what they had. [LNB]'Newcastle are different from other clubs who've been promoted because of where they come from. They're already sitting here with a budget that exceeds X amount, with a squad depth that has huge experience. But they still need to spend and, as a greedy manager, I think at least £40m for the first window and £20m for the second.[LNB]'But they have very good experienced players: Gutierrez, Enrique, Ameobi you can go through the team. They are better equipped than others and are a different animal an animal ready-made for the Premier League with a Premier League infrastructure, but it will need an injection of new players.[LNB] Goalden boy: Jose Enrique is mobbed by team-mates after his special late strike[LNB]'They deserve great credit for getting into the Premier League but they know that it takes huge spending to compete.'[LNB]Jose Enrique, 24, whose first career goal on Monday rounded off the leaders' seventh successive home win, has been a revelation.[LNB]Hughton will be keen to keep the former Villarreal defender, although his displays will have put him on the radar of Spanish and English clubs. He has already been the subject of interest from Sunderland.[LNB]Enrique knows Newcastle need to invest to avoid a painful repeat of relegation and he is convinced Hughton is the man to continue leading the club.[LNB] Enlarge He said: 'In the Premier League, we know the teams are a different level. We have a good team for the Championship and we need players for the Premier League, but that's normal. [LNB]'Every team will need new players. Those who decided to stay after relegation decided it was better to try to help win promotion than to leave straight after the drop. [LNB]  'Even last summer when I said I wanted to stay, I meant it. I don't lie. People will now believe and realise why I did it.[LNB]'And Chris Hughton deserves the credit. He is the best manager I've ever had here in three seasons. He's had one season and has grown into the job.[LNB]'People who say he will not be as good in the Premier League are being unfair. Why not? The club want him to stay, he's very keen to stay and the players want to work with Chris next season.'[LNB]  NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Newcastle set to reach the promised land via Peterborough but Chris Hughton's not celebratingNewcastle fans think it's all over as Shola Ameobi sparks Hokey CokeyNewcastle 2 Forest 0: Jose's big night - Enrique scores his first ever goal [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail