Rams' Davies banned from first game
Davies will be absent for his side's first Premier League fixture
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Thursday, 09, Aug 2007 04:41
Derby County manager Billy Davies will not be allowed to sit on the touchline during the Rams' Premier League season-opening match against Portsmouth on Saturday.
Davies has been handed a one-match touchline ban for "using abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official" during Derby's Championship fixture against Southend United on January 20th.
Derby, who were chasing automatic promotion at the time, eventually won the match at Roots Hall 1-0 thanks to a goal from striker Steve Howard, but the Rams manager was angered by a number of decisions made by the officials.
It was the second of a five-match run of consecutive 1-0 victories for the Rams, who went on to win promotion to the top flight through the end-of-season play-offs.
In addition to the touchline ban, Davies has been fined a total of £1,750 for his misbehaviour at the fixture.
The disciplinary commission found two charges of using abusive language proved.
The first, when Davies insulted a Football Association official, led to a fine of £1,000 in addition to the touchline ban while the second charge, "using abusive and/or insulting words towards a Southend United FC club official", meant Davies has been fined an extra £750.
The news of the sanctions against the Derby boss is a blow to the club, coming just two days before they kick off their Premier League campaign.
Assistant manager David Kelly will take charge of immediate first-team affairs during the fixture and Davies will be prevented from passing any messages or relaying team orders to the bench.