Livingston players back suspended Hegarty

Apr 30 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE suspension of Livingston manager Paul Hegarty and assistant Graeme Robertson has stunned and devastated the Almondvale dressing room.

And the players have admitted they are fearful for the future of the West Lothian club.

Speaking exclusively to the Courier, a first team player who wishes to remain anonymous, admitted that the players are shocked at the treatment of the management pair and insist they are continuing to back their departed boss.

The star also admitted chairman Angelo Massone did ask the players to sign a statement for the Scottish Football League insisting everything was fine at Almondvale but they had refused and would continue to do so.

The latest episode in the madcap world of Livingston FC began last Saturday night when Hegarty and Robertson were suspended with the duo insisting they had no idea why.

And the player admitted the first team squad have been left as baffled as them as to why this latest situation has occurred.

He said: “To be honest, as far as I’m concerned they seem to be looking for excuses to get rid of the manager.

“Every single player I have spoken to are fully behind the boss, Graeme Robertson and the physio.

“I don’t know what the people upstairs are trying to do but it does not seem to be for the good of the club.

“It is a shocking situation and one which has come completely out of the blue but they have our support.

“How can they justify suspending Graeme Robertson who has brought through so many quality young players?”

The suspension of Graeme Robertson after seven years service in West Lothian has hit the players and the fans hard.

In his role as head of youth development Robbo brought through the likes of James McPake, Graham Dorrans and Robert Snodgrass in recent years. And the likes of Cammy Macdonald, Murray Davidson, Andy Halliday and West Brom target Leigh Griffiths in the past 12 months.

The dressing room source admitted the players are looking ahead to a summer of dread and uncertainty as the future of the club appears to be in the balance.

He added: “It is worrying to think what will happen next especially at the end of the season.

“We as players need to protect ourselves and we are worried if the owners go back to Italy for the summer will we be paid at all.

“The chairman continues to insist everything is okay but there are problems somewhere and none of us can see how suspending the managerial staff can help.

“We are all worried for our own futures but also for the well-being of Livingston FC.”

SUSPENDED: Paul Hegarty and Graeme Robertson, both pictured left, were suspended on Saturday night but both retain the full backing of the Livingston first-team.