Edgar Davids joins Barnet: Dutchman ready for challenge

Former Netherlands international Edgar Davids says he is prepared for the challenge of helping League Two strugglers Barnet.

The 39-year-old ex-Ajax and Juventus midfielder was appointed as joint-head coach of the Bees on Thursday.

He told BBC London: "It's my local team. Starting out as a coach, it's an opportunity to help them in the right direction. It's a big challenge.

"They have talented players. They are playing way under their potential."

Davids, who lives only a mile away from Barnet, added: "The whole management and player group has to have the intention of wanting to do better."

Barnet appointed former Charlton, Gillingham and Peterborough coach Mark Robson as their head coach this summer.

However, the Bees currently lie bottom of League Two and are without a win this season.

Davids is confident he can work well alongside Robson in joint-charge, but admits he expects them to disagree on some matters.

"Mark has experience, he has a football philosophy and likes to keep the ball on the ground," he added.

"On that level, we agree. We will clash. It's not a case of if.

"It's going to happen. The most important thing is what you get out of it. Through those fights we will grow."

Davids, who won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and three Serie A titles with Juventus, aims to register as a player with the Underhill outfit.

He has played in England before, spending 18 months with Tottenham Hotspur in the mid 2000s and having a seven-game spell at Crystal Palace in 2010.

"You have to see if you are going to be an asset for the team," he said.

"If that means I have to play, I have to play. I can still play but you have to be ready. I don't underestimate League Two."

Bees director of football Paul Fairclough denied that bringing Davids to the club was a publicity stunt.

"Football is full of cynics but this is a serious intent by Barnet to improve results and to enhance our long-term vision to develop young footballers," Fairclough told BBC London.

"There's no better person around at the moment to assist in that.

"He's expressed a genuine concern to help and be part of Barnet Football Club. Mark Robson is an outstanding coach and has got a future here for as long as he wants.

"We've brought in someone who will work alongside him to further enhance the project. The combination will be dynamic."