Manager Darren Ferguson was full of praise for his skipper after the final home game of the season. The North End boss was critical of his side's second half display, but said the character shown by his captain was something he wants to see more of next season.
"One person we have with character is Callum Davidson, he was outstanding today," the gaffer told the press after the 1-0 defeat. "He was a great example to everyone today. It is no coincidence that Callum has been at the Club six years and they have got in the Play-Offs four times during that period.
"You look at the teams who win things, they all have character about them, even Barcelona - they are a great football team, but the way they work is clear to see. Callum has the heart and he will put a shift in. He comes to training and he is at it and we need more of that type.
"He experienced; good on the ball; he organises and I knew it wouldn't be a problem playing him in the middle. I didn't want to change the shape, it's a shape I enjoy, but you also have to be careful with it, because you can not get as many chances; saying that Ross Wallace put three great crosses in."
Both manager's were in agreement in the post-match grilling that North End had been the better side in the first half, but the manager felt his team failed to come out and show what was needed after the interval.
"It is a disappointing end for the fans at home. I thought first half we were the better team and I think that was our opportunity to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Our system caused Leicester problems, to the point where they changed and matched us up, so we were the better team in the first half," he continued.
"The second half was nowhere near good enough. We weren't not quite there, we were nowhere near there in the second half. They came out stronger, but it is no coincidence they are where they are. They have good character in their team and that's what you need. It is not all about ability.
"I feel Leicester will go up and I thought their two centre halves were magnificent for them; they headed everything and that's what you want for your centre halves. I have to look at my own team and there is a lot of work to be done."
The manager was quick to move on to looking ahead to next season and admitted that there were likely to be some major changes to the squad during the off season: "It is a bigger job than I anticipated when I first came in, but I have seen enough and today didn't really alter my views. I have seen enough in the three odd months I have been here and I will use Leicester as a decent example of having the type of character that gets you promotion. We haven't got enough characters.
"I can't reveal exactly what I'm thinking, I have to be careful, but Leicester isn't a bad analogy of where we want to be next season. There's a few things I want to change, every manager will be the same. There are players I want to keep because there are some really good players at this football club, but to be where we are at the moment it will be clear to anyone looking from the outside, that I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't freshen things up, but we will wait and see. This is a good club, I have said that in my programme notes, there are a lot of good people and we shouldn't be finishing around the 15th mark.
"Not much business is done in May and June as people try and keep their money in their pockets, but the board and I have got to get together and they will have to help me making the change.
"I have made subtle changes already; we need a real freshness to the squad. It is not as simple as I want so many out and I want so many in, it doesn't work like that.
"The thing that might cloud things is that if they introduce the four year parachute payment, it will probably make one or two teams have a right go at it, because otherwise it could become a two-tiered division and I don't want us to end up in the bottom tier. You can have teams going up and coming down and they have a £15m start on you, so they have a four-year £60m protection. So I imagine a few will have a go at it.
"I have to wheel and deal, but I do feel we need two or three really good signings to make a difference and we'll see. I came into things with my eyes wide open, but we have had success as a club before without going made in the transfer market, but I think this season I am going to try and reduce the wage bill.
"There's people on a lot of big money and I have to work with that and be careful how I do it. I don't know why the chairman sometimes gets some criticism, because he has done things really well here.
"We want success and we want to get in the Premier League and if we get the right people in, with the right mentality, then there will be a difference."
The manager finished by confirming that goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan's non-appearance in the second half was not planned, but he had picked up an injury with his last touch of the first half.
"Lonners pulled his groin with the last kick of the first half. He has looked safe and really good over the last month or so and he's a good goalkeeper.
"I wanted to give Wayne an opportunity anyway and he did fine, made a couple of good saves and I was disappointed he didn't get a clean sheet, but that is nothing to do with him.
"I will probably give Wayne an opportunity next week along with probably two or three others, young boys and people like that. I have not made my mind up completely, but it is something that I am thinking about."
