Experience has taught Andrew Davies that grass isn’t always greener elsewhere.

News that the talismanic centre half has once again become City’s first capture of the summer has received a rapturous response from the fans.

They know what a key player he has become in Phil Parkinson’s side – and what a persuasive marker his signature must put down for other potential summer targets.

Davies has shown himself to be a class above the level he has been performing at and interest in him from higher divisions was anticipated.

But he put any rumours quickly to bed by nailing his colours to the Valley Parade mast with the deal that will keep him in West Yorkshire until June 2015.

The 28-year-old has made no secret of the fact that he believes he can rescale the heights and perform again in the Premier League and Championship.

So his keenness to get the contract with City done rather than bide his time and listen out for other suitors may have surprised some.

But then Davies can sense a club with momentum and he is eager to be part of that forward motion.

He was also wary of blowing an opportunity in the same way he did earlier in his career when he left Southampton for Premier League new boys Stoke.

Davies had appeared 25 times for Saints in 2007-08 before a fractured cheekbone curtailed his season in March.

But the fact he was named the club’s player of the year by supporters despite playing only four months of the Championship campaign showed the significant impact he made on the south coast.

Davies had only just made the move from Middlesbrough permanent when Stoke came knocking. The lure of linking up with the newly-promoted Potters proved irresistible despite his established place in Southampton’s plans and he was off.

But his return to the top flight read nothing like the brochure and he played just twice as a substitute in the Premier League.

His only starting appearance was in a humiliating FA Cup loss at Hartlepool – which ended with a 71st-minute injury when he fell into the home dugout.

Davies played just one more League Cup cameo with Stoke at the start of the following season. The remainder of his four years on their books was spent being farmed elsewhere, with City being the last of six loan stops in September 2011 within a month of Parkinson’s arrival.

All that will have been in the defender’s thoughts when Parkinson made it clear that he was very much in his planning for League One. It’s good to feel wanted and Davies was wary of missing the boat again.

Recalling that doomed switch to Stoke, Davies said: “Maybe I moved for the wrong reasons because Southampton were a club on the up and have proved themselves to be.

“I don’t want that to be the case here by moving away and missing out. I was desperate to stay.

“When I first came here, there were things at the club that needed changing.

“Players were obviously going in and coming out – it was a bit all over the place, to be honest.

“But the manager finally brought in the players he wanted and installed his way of doing things.

“Then the club started moving forward and it was quite a proud moment to walk out at Wembley. I look at myself, the manager and the staff and I think we’ve all come a long way in our careers over the last year and a half.”

Davies clearly admires Parkinson’s approach and philosophy, as well as the backroom staff he has assembled.

The manager sold him the project and the behind-the-scenes efforts of fitness coach Nick Allamby and physio Matt Barrass in getting him back up to speed after four months on the sidelines ensured he was back to play a no-nonsense role in the promotion climax.

“The way Phil has changed the team around and brought players in, I think he’s got it pretty much spot on,” said Davies.

“The fans and the manager have been fantastic and a lot of credit must also go to Nick and Matt, who were fantastic.

“I had a knee injury but Matt worked with me every day. A lot of plaudits go to the players but you must give the staff a massive amount of credit.

“Everybody connected to the club pulled together and it paid off. I think it was the most memorable season of my entire career.”