A Wolves fan himself for more than 50 years, Davis admits it will be a ‘special day’ as well as an honour to lead the team out at a stadium he first attended with his dad as a six-year-old.
He writes: “Before the Chelsea game last weekend, I said how I could not describe the feeling of being in charge of the club I have loved and supported since I was a young lad. When my dad first took me along to the golden palace and lifted me up onto the South Bank terraces, I knew I’d be a Wolves fan forever.
“Although my career as a footballer, and even as a coach, meant I was more often than not on the opposing side when I would return to Molineux, that love I had for Wolves has never wavered – just like all of you who will be supporting us from the stands.
“Wolves have always been in my heart, so it will be a very special day for me and my family, and I hope we will do everything possible to make Saturday a special day for everyone supporting us as well.
“I’ve experienced what it’s like as a player and as a manager going up against Wolves at Molineux, so I know just how much your support can influence a game. I’ve not won very often here as an opponent, but that’s because you don’t get much here when the crowd are fully behind the players and everything is at full swing.
“When the palace is rocking, the noise is deafening and as a visiting player, you always know coming here that you’re going to be up against it, but that’s only if everyone is firing together.”
As interim head coach, Davis has been assisted by under-21 boss James Collins in preparing the team not only for last weekend’s visit to Chelsea, but also for Saturday’s visit of Nottingham Forest, and he has also written about the changes the pair have tried to make to lift the squad’s confidence.
“When things aren’t going as well as you might like, the first thing you try as a coach is to do things differently, and that’s what we’ve been doing in training this week.
“I spoke to the leadership group within the squad and they told me of their desire to train like we play, so that’s exactly what we’ve done. We’ve upped the intensity in sessions, we’ve allowed the players to train with freedom and asked them to express themselves.
“We all know the talent that our players have, and as coaches, we’re doing everything we can during the week to lift their spirits, but matchdays are different.
“There’s a different pressure, a different scenario and I think every bit of support you can give us will make a difference. Whether that’s big or small, it will make a difference.”
