Vics build for next term as WOSL return unlikely
Livi boss flagged up Hakeem to Hamilton
Blantyre Victoria boss John Gibson hopes there will be a rise in attendances when football returns as supporters get behind their local clubs.
The West of Scotland Football League remains suspended and it’s looking increasingly likely that the current season will be cancelled.
Gibson has supported ending the season for months but he is optimistic that clubs like Blantyre will benefit from fans’ excitement at returning next season.
He said: “I honestly think that we will get more supporters to our games when they’re allowed back in.
“I was at a committee meeting last week and we identified that we could get a rise in attendances. If you let 200300 people into our ground then people might come from bigger clubs who are only allowed in 10,000.
“I can see us picking up some of the bigger clubs’ supporters on a Saturday. It would be good for us because we are trying to make our ground better.
Blantyre have made improvements to their ground during lockdown and they’ll have three brand new stands in place for next season.
The Vics boss revealed: “One of our sponsors, George Fulson, he’s just made three stands. He’s cut them out of shipping containers and he’s done them all up.
“They look brilliant and will be in place for next season.
“They are very good and it will add something to our ground for supporters to enjoy.”
Lowland League bosses are pushing for a return by committing to lateral flow testing - cheaper than PCR - but they’ve yet to receive the green light.
Blantyre are yet to play a game in 2021 and Gibson is consigned to the fact that the season is over.
He said: “I can’t see it coming back. They keep putting meetings off with the Lowland League and we are getting too far into the year.
“It’s the second week in March and we’d need to be back by the start of April or we wouldn’t be able to fulfil our fixtures as a league. It’s increasingly likely that the season is finished.
“We’d need to get the go head shortly because we need to know. I don’t know if there are any meetings sorted but it looks like the SFA are focusing on the Scottish Cup.”
Lowland League clubs have begun to loan their players out to clubs in League One and Two with more moves expected in the coming days.
Vics boss Gibson believes that this is a sign that these clubs, like East Kilbride, aren’t optimistic about returning.
He said: “I saw Chris Erskine is away to Thistle and it seems like Paul {Kean}, the chairman at EK who I know well, must have an indication that they won’t be back. I’d be surprised if they’d let Chris go otherwise because he’s played every game for them this season.
“That hinted to me that it wasn’t coming back.”
Brian Rice has revealed he has Livingston boss David Martindale to thank for tipping him off about the talent of Hamilton hero Hakeem Odoffin.
The Accies gaffer was delighted to see star man Odoffin extend his contract at the club on Tuesday, keeping him at New Douglas Park for another year.
And he says he owes a debt of gratitude to Saturday’s opponents.
Martindale is at the helm at the Tony Macaroni Arena now after Gary Holt’s exit in December.
But as the head of football operations in the summer and with Odoffin out of the picture in West Lothian, Martindale tipped Rice off about the talented defender/midfielder.
It’s paid huge dividends for Accies. Odoffin has become one of the hottest talents in the Premiership, netted key goals in big games, including Lanarkshire derby wins over Motherwell, and has landed a remarkable title for his interceptions this season.
So Livi could be regretting letting him go ahead of this weekend’s encounter.
Rice revealed: “In hindsight, people would probably make decisions differently to how they have done in the past.
“But it was Davie who tipped me off about him. He wasn’t getting a game at Livi and Davie said to me to have a look at this boy, so I’ve got a lot to thank Davie for.
“He told me what a great lad Hakeem was on and off the pitch, so we’ve got a lot to be thankful to Livingston for.
“With Hakeem you know what you are going to get off him when he goes out there. His effort, commitment and his workrate is an example to others and it’s rubbing off on quite a lot of them.
“I can’t complain about anything he’s given us.”
Odoffin’s deal was set to expire in the summer, but Accies have extended his contract by another year, which may fend off potential suitors or at least ensure Accies don’t see him walk for free in the summer. And Rice is thrilled to get the deal over the line.
He added: “The club have been talking to him for a wee while now, so it’s fantastic for the club and great for the boy to get it done.
“I can see why he’s a fans’ favourite because he puts his body on the line, he’s got himself a few goals and you get the same out of him every week.
“His stats are high, he’s playing with a smile on his face and he’s enjoying himself every week.
“The club has been good for him, he’s been good for the club, so it’s a good blend.”