THE MIDLANDER: It's high time Nottingham Forest told Billy Davies his job is safe - or at least banish David Pleat to the shadows

Updated: 06:24 EDT, 2 October 2009

Someone senior at Nottingham Forest needs to put their arm around Billy Davies's shoulder.

Chief executive Mark Arthur or owner Nigel Doughty. I don't care who does it. But someone needs to tell him to stop fretting.

His perceived paranoia raced to the surface after Wednesday night's thoroughly  deserved 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe United.

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Back me or ... Billy Davies needs some sympathy for his plight at The City Ground

And it surprised me that he still felt his job was in peril. Now, first an admission. I've not been down as regularly as some of that resolute bunch who have witnessed some utter, utter dross since Paul Hart left.

But from what I've seen so far the seeds are there. They are improving. They aren't there yet, but it's a start. The general direction of the club is upwards.

However, someone in a position of power needs to tell Mr Davies that his position as manager of Nottingham Forest Football Club is not under threat.

I have it on authority from a senior figure that it is simply not on the agenda. Anyway, he's been given £6m to spend, that's proof that the Tricky Trees' owners want him to do well.

But he continually pumps out this line about football managers not being given  sufficient time to mould their teams.

He threw out the age-old example of Sir Alex Ferguson being given time at an  assembled group of half-a-dozen journos after the match - at least one of whom  had heard the same spiel seven times beforehand.

Yes, he's absolutely right about that one.

(But what about other changes that have been made when the chemistry has not  been right? What about Chelsea's decision to bin 'Big Phil' last season, for instance? Guus Hiddink turns up and, had that shot from Iniesta sailed over the bar instead of into the top corner, the London Blues may have won the Champions  League.

(I was going to write that it would put them one behind Forest, but it never will be THE European Cup. That died the minute they opened it up to any club in the top four. It's anything but The 'Champions' League. However, I digress)

Davies's paranoia stems from one direction. And he needs to be left alone to  get on with the job.

Now here's how I would do it: Forest's football consultant David Pleat casts a big shadow over Billy Davies

Honestly, I have got nothing against David Pleat whatsoever. The man clearly loves football. Colleagues tell me that he is among the most astute tacticians about.
I'm sure that's right.

But if Billy Davies doesn't feel right with Mr Pleat looking over his shoulder,  then Mr Pleat should disappear. Or retreat into the shadows where Mr Davies cannot see him.
How would Mr Pleat have liked his authority being questioned at Spurs, Luton or  Sheffield Wednesday?

Answer? Absolutely not.

The pressure of deadlines meant that I wasn't really able to start an argument with Billy during his post-match press conference when he flagged up his grievance for the whole world to see.

But, honestly, in 18 years' of covering professional football for a variety of different organisations, I've never met a more contrarry individual. If you say  something is black, then his counter-point is that it's off-white.

For example, I put it to him during discourse that a clean sheet at home following eight goals conceded in four matches was an improvement.

A simple question, a half-volley that just needed dispatching to the boundary.

His retort was that five of them shouldn't really count because they were deflected.

Winning is all that matters: Luke Chambers scores for Nottingham Forest against Scunthorpe

Uh? You can't have it both ways, Bill!  Moments earlier we were being lectured upon the fact that results are the only  true barometer for any manager.

So statistics only matter when they suit, then? Despite his ability to provoke debate/argument/fight (delete as applicable) there is little denying that he is a good football manager.

I have it from a variety of sources that during his previous life at Derby County that his training sessions were both thorough and interesting for his players. Even when they were struggling.

He does care. He doesn't drink. He loves the cut and thrust of management. And his enthusiasm is infectious. It does rub off on you.

Given the decision-makers' past track record for employing bosses - and by that I'm really referring to that obnoxious, jumped-up, arrogant twerp Joe Kinnear -  you'd have thought that they would have wanted to keep hold of Billy.

He knows his way around the division, he's been successful in it and he is  anxious to prove himself again.

He just doesn't want someone looking over his shoulder.

Please, please, please...someone take the hint.