Davies eyes big spend

Derby manager Billy Davies is prepared to break the club's transfer record again to bolster his side.

Last week Wales striker Robert Earnshaw joined the Rams for £3.5million with Davies continuing his search for more players to bring into Pride Park as they prepare for a season in the Premier League.

Craig Brown was appointed football consultant to the club on Tuesday, as Davies himself signed a one-year contract extension which will see him take charge of Derby until the end of the 2009/10 campaign.

And Davies is certain that Brown's connections will ensure they bring in some highly-rated players.

"Robert Earnshaw can stitch up opposition teams, he is a fox in the box and he has got pace," Davies said.

"Some people say he is not much of a link player but if he gets 20 goals for us next season who will give a damn? Not me.

"Remember, we have also got Steve Howard who is a great link-up player and we are also hoping to make more signings and some of those signings will be strikers.

"Will we break the transfer record again before the start of the season? It is a possibility, yes.

"There are talks going on right at this moment but there are so many people involved in the modern-day transfer everything takes so long to finalise.

"We are also planning to make great use of Craig Brown's wealth of contacts in Europe and we have already started talks with some clubs and some agents.

"We are trying to keep about 25 plates spinning at the moment but what I am not prepared to do is be rushed into making a signing."

Davies' hopes of adding David Kelly to his coaching staff as his assistant appear now to be unlikely.

Kelly was Davies' assistant at Preston but spent last season on gardening leave with an acrimonious dispute with North End chairman Derek Shaw still ongoing.

"As for David Kelly, will he be at this football club next season? I would say not," Davies said.

"We tried to bring him here but it does not seem to be possible because of issues between David Kelly and Preston North End.

"I think David will end up spending next season on gardening leave as well and I cannot wait around forever."