Sky Sports I rejected Manchester United to sign for Rangers – it was the biggest mistake of my life.

When then-Old Trafford manager Dave Saxton offered Billy Davies a lucrative five-year contract, he elected to return home and join Ibrox.

Billy Davies reveals that rejecting Manchester United to join Rangers was the biggest mistake of his life.

As a schoolboy, the former Dunfermline and Motherwell midfielder was promised a five-year contract with the Old Trafford giants. However, after experiencing homesickness, the Glasgow-born child opted to return home and sign the same deal at Ibrox. Davies made his professional debut for Gers at the age of 17, but he played seldom for the team throughout his six years in Govan. He subsequently spent time in Sweden with Jönköping and Elfsborg before moving on to play for St Mirren, Leicester City, the Pars and Well. However, the former Scotland international often wonders what would have occurred if he had stayed with the Red Devils, who went on to win England and Europe under the famous Sir Alex Ferguson.

Davies was offered a contract by then-United manager Dave Saxton, as he recalled: “I was taken down to Manchester to the training field and was there from 12 until roughly 16 years old. It was nice to mingle with the initial team members. Dave Sexton, the manager, had a team consisting of Scottish players, including Arthur Albiston, Gordon McQueen, and Joe Jordan. It was an absolutely great location to be. “They offered me a five-year contract… but I went abroad with the youth team and got homesick, so I told Dave Sexton that I’d decided to stay home and sign a five-year deal with Rangers.”

“It was a poor choice for me. I was young, naive, and lonesome, so I made a decision. But the club was wonderful. Dave Sexton was a terrific coach. Every day, we went down to the Cliff training area with all of the first team boys, including Lou Macari, Sammy McIlroy, and Frank Stapleton, and we would sit beside them at lunch. I have to say that it was an excellent experience. It is an excellent club. A wonderful spot to be. “[Leaving] was the biggest mistake of my life.”

While his playing career did not pan out at Rangers, Davies’ relationship with the club did not end there. After gaining experience as a manager at Fir Park, Preston, Derby County, and Nottingham Forest, the 60-year-old stated he was approached about the Ibrox post.

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