Davis sees sense in Adkins departure

05 April 2013 17:47

Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis hailed former manager Nigel Adkins for what he achieved with the club but agrees the decision to sack him was correct.

Adkins inspired Saints to back-to-back promotions but was axed from his role on January 18 by chairman Nicola Cortese and was immediately replaced by former Espanyol boss Mauricio Pochettino. At that time, Southampton were three points clear of the relegation zone, while under Pochettino they have only moved one further point clear of the bottom three to sit in 12th place.

However, despite this, Davis believes a fresh approach was needed and that has been provided by Pochettino. He told BBC Radio Solent: "The manner in which he has come in and lifted the club to a new level shows it was a decision that's been proved right."

Davis added: "We are in a state of mind where we can feel we can win every game at the moment and we will go there (to Reading tomorrow) to do that. There's certainly been a raising in player performance. The lads have reacted positively to it (his arrival).

"Mauricio and his staff have come in and communicated very well and everything they are trying to pull off the lads are soaking up and fortunately we are putting that into our performances."

The trip to Reading means Southampton come up against Adkins, who was appointed Royals manager on March 26 and will now be looking to engineer their top flight survival.

Reading are rock bottom of the Barclays Premier League standings, seven points adrift of safety with seven games remaining.

Davis is not surprised to see his former boss take up another post so quickly.

"I'm sure he wanted to get back into football as soon as he could, most managers that move on from a club want to stay in the game," he said.

"From that side of it, it doesn't surprise me. We achieved a lot while he was at the club in a short space of time and the club is continuing to grow without him now."

Source: PA