Bollan: Livi will be tough test for Utd

HAVING had a foot in both camps, twice, Gary Bollan will look on with interest when Dundee United and Livingston face off in a vital Championship clash on Friday.

With son Luc on the books at Tannadice, the man who’s now in charge at Cowdenbeath wants to see the Tangerines re-ignite their promotion challenge by picking up three points.

Gary, of course, started his playing career at United, but also had a spell with Livingston before heading back to United in 2003.

Once he’d hung up his boots he also had a successful period as Livi boss that saw him clinch two promotions before being inexplicably sacked in early 2012 when they were in mid-table in the then First Division — a position they were unable to reach again until this term.

That’s not lost on him, though he considers it far too far in the past to feel bitter about.

“It’s all in the past and I’ve moved on, but you do wonder what we might have been able to achieve,” he said.

“When I left the teams above us were Ross County, Dundee and Falkirk. The first two have gone on to establish themselves in the Premiership since and, until this season, Falkirk have always been challenging to get up.

“Livingston went in the other direction but David Hopkin has done a great job since he went there and got them back to where they want to be.

“He’s put together a strong team that’s very well organised. They’ve been going well since the start of the season and, although people thought they might drop away after Christmas, I’m not surprised they’ve kept going.

“Having reached February high in the table, I’d expect them to keep on right to the end, so, going down there isn’t going to be easy.”

Bollan is also well aware United’s challenge has faltered over the past month or so. He believes there’s time for Csaba Laszlo’s team to get back on track but knows it has to be soon. Gary Bollan had two spells as a player at Dundee United.