appreciation society which currrently exists between Livingston FC and FC
Semtex?
The way the Javier Sanchez Blotto (does he take a drink?) deal went through
without a hitch really got me thinking and, if I had the misfortune to be a
Livvy fan, I would have one or two serious questions to ask Dominic Keane.
When he and Willie Haughey bid a fond farewell to Breezeblock Boulevard (and
got in tow with a lottery millionaire whose name escapes me), I immediately
anticipated the emergence of a West Lothian feeder club and, believing this
to be the best survival plan for the minor clubs, I had no problem with it.
After all, Livvy were still nothing more than Meadowbank Thistle in disguise
and, languishing in the Third Division, I lost no sleep over the situation.
But then Davie Hay climbed on board and Leishman also arrived, they began to
talk about Livingston pushing towards the Premier League and, as they made
progress, several things began to concern me. Dominic Keane's presence in
Sellick's official party for European trips and his company organising
flights for TGFITW were certainly high on my worry list. Where did his true
loyalties lie?
Discussing the matter over a few beers one night, my mates suggested I'd
been on the paranoia pills. Livvy were going nowhere, the Gers were ruling
the roost, what are you worrying about Little Boy? Being a twisted sod, I
answered the question with another question: If the Mhanky Mhob were playing
Livvy, needing to win to clinch the title, do you think they'd get the
result they needed?
We all know the answer to that one, don't we. Livingston's performance at
the Scum Dome last April was nothing short of disgraceful, with the outcome
done and dusted inside the first ten minutes. And did the players get their
arses toed for such a shameful performance? Don't be silly! Leishman comes
on telly afterwards, beaming from ear to ear and praising the character of
his team. After such a dreadful first half (they were 4-0 down at
half-time), they showed great spirit to come out and draw 1-1 in the second
half. Pass the sick bag.
Having been at The Brox on a number of occasions when the Gers have wrapped
up the flag, it tends to be standard practice for the opposition to get
offside sharpish, leave the stage to the victors and skulk off back to where
they came from. But not Livingston. Leishman appears on TV crawing about
how proud he was to see Livingston involved in such a wonderful occasion
(they'd just been horsed 5-1!) and I understand the entire Livvy party were
invited to the after-match soiree backstage with our non-sectarian
neighbours.
But that is not the end of it. A week later, the same team which had rolled
over pathetically at The Piggery, got right in about our lot, battled back
from a goal down to grab a 2-1 victory with a brilliant last minute goal.
Suspicious? You bet! But on the way home, my mates consoled themselves
with the knowledge, 'exclusively' revealed in one shitsheet or another, that
the chief architect of our defeat, David Fernandez, would soon be Ibrox
bound.
That old sceptic in me sighed words to the effect 'Ah'll believe it when Ah
see it'. Lo and behold, a few weeks later Fernandez is standing on the
steps of Parkheid, with a green and white rag above his head. It's
Fernanderz of Septic, not Fernandez of Rangers, yet he has hardly kicked a
ball for them this season. My suspicious mind reckons the Livvy lot were
quickly on the phone to Sellick Park, explaining that Big Eck had made an
offer they couldn't refuse...well, not unless Martin wants to make one too.
Don't worry if he doesn't fancy Fernandez too much, if he signs him, McLeish
can't get him. OK, deal done.
Which brings me to the latest bit of business between these kissing cousins.
Hedman has an injury problem, Rab Douglas is beginning to regret his move to
Them (no sympathy Rab, you were warned!) so they might need to put a boy
between the sticks for the cup-tie against St.Mirren. No worries, get on
the blower to Almondvale, Dominic will give us his keeper for coppers.
Problem solved.
The guys I really feel for are the Livingston fans. Having seen their team
come through the ranks, their ambitions have risen considerably and, by
finishing third in the SPL last season, they have to think that, given a
half-decent break here or there, they'd be in with a shout in one of the cup
competitions. Yet, on the eve of the start of the Scottish Cup campaign,
facing a tricky tie against Dunfermline, the club sells their goalkeeper,
with no recognised deputy waiting in the wings.
The fans should ask if Dominic Keane and his sidekicks share their
ambitions. I certainly question Livingston's true agenda and it should
cause those in the corridors of power at Hampden to have similar doubts.
With the Sons Of and the Scum Of so far ahead of the rest, the conduct of
the also-rans must be beyond suspicion and, with the arrival of Steve
Patterson having got a bit more honesty out of the under-achievers at Sheep
City, the game can do without helping hands coming from other sources.
Don't misunderstand me. I'm all in favour of the top teams having feeder
clubs in the lower echelons of the league. As I suggested earlier, it could
be a financial life-saver for the hard-up minnows. With a bit of tinkering
with football's finances, every SPL club could have a link to a lower league
club, with the better teams of the First Division also taking another club
under their wing. The pooling of resources and the sharing of expenditure
could be made to work and, over a period of a few years, the health of
Scottish football would benefit considerably. But that is another issue
entirely.
When two teams from the same league, supposedly rivals competing against
each other, get too cosy, football is taking a big step along the slippery
slope of corruption. And nobody at Livingston should get too upset with my
suggestion that their loyaltries might be split. After all, arent they the
same club who threw the dummy out of the pram and called for a change in the
rules when Michael Hart signed a pre-contract deal with the Sheepies?
Inevitably, Hart was hustled out of the door rapidly and, although
disappointed, the fans recognised that it was probably the best course of
action for all concerned.
Little did they know he would not be the only valuable first team player
heading for pastures new. Take my word for it, he won't be the last either.
LITTLE BOY BLUE