Doctors have ordered bed-rest for the 37-year-old manager, who was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in his neck earlier this week.

Despite his absence, the club's pre-season programme began today and just ahead of that a fourth summer signing was completed with the arrival of veteran defender Darren Moore on a free transfer from Derby County.

Davey's assistant, Ryan Kidd, was in charge today.

"The doctor who treated Simon's back injury when he was a player and looked after me when I did my neck has sent him to hospital. He needs two or three days' complete rest," he explained.

Moore, aged 34, has been given a two-year contract at Oakwell.

He was allowed to leave Derby despite being their Player of the Year last season when they crashed out of the Premier League with a record low number of points.

Birmingham-born Moore, who helped Derby to win promotion in 2006-07, had a year left on his contract at Pride Park but was told he could leave.

Several clubs showed an interest, including Bradford City and Leicester City. He was also linked with Doncaster Rovers and Swansea.

He joined Derby from West Brom in January 2006 and made 89 appearances, scoring five goals.

He started his career at Torquay before moving to Doncaster Rovers in 1995. He played 84 times for Rovers and then moved on to Bradford in 1997.

Portsmouth bought him for £500,000 in November 1999 and he moved to West Brom for £750,000 two years later. He played three seasons in the Premier League for West Brom before moving to Derby in January, again for £500,000.


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