Davies' payback

9:00am Friday 29th August 2008

KEVIN Davies revealed his love for Wanderers was behind his decision to extend his contract at the Reebok until 2011.

The striker put an end to speculation over his future by committing himself to Bolton for a further 12 months, taking him past his 34th birthday.

Hull City had been linked with a move for the Yorkshireman all summer but as The Bolton News revealed at the end of July, talks had already begun on extending his deal.

Now the ink is dry, Davies admitted he would be happy to see out his career in the place he now regards as home.

“Talks have been going on since the summer, so to get it signed means that I can now concentrate on my football,” he said.

“It has taken a little bit longer than myself and the club would have liked but negotiations ran pretty smoothly on both sides. I love playing for the club and I’m settled living in the town.”

Rescued from the footballing scrap heap by Sam Allardyce in 2003 after his released by Southampton, Davies has turned round his career at the Reebok, making more than 200 appearances for the club.

And he is keen to repay the Whites by making sure last season’s struggle against relegation is consigned firmly to the past.

“When I first signed it was obviously a difficult time in my career but I was given that chance at Bolton,” Davies said. “To play in Europe twice and a Carling Cup final has been great and last year was probably the most challenging I have had here.

“But we are all working hard to make sure that it doesn’t happen again and we have to try and put ourselves back in the top half of the table.”