Bollan wins Manager of the Month award

Nov 12 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

GARY Bollan has been awarded the Manager of the Month for October after leading his side on an unbeaten league and cup run.

The Livingston gaffer picked up the award for the Third Division from Scottish Football League sponsors Irn-Bru after the Lions picked up three wins and one draw in a league run which saw them roar to the top of the table for the first time this season.

The Almondvale side also dispatched Queen’s Park in the Active Nation Scottish Cup, setting up a tasty third round clash with Second Division Clyde.

It is just three months since Bollan was appointed as the Lions boss — his first fully fledged managerial appointment.

While he admitted to being pleased with the recognition, he insisted that it was very much a team award and heaped praise on his players and coaching staff.

Bollan said: “It’s nice to win an award but football teams are about much more than the manager.

“The players have shown great professionalism to go out and get the results so it’s really for them and the staff who do a fantastic job behind the scenes.

“October was a good month for us, starting with a big win in a big game at Forfar.

“Since then we have continued our good form and the reaction we have got from all the players has been great.”

The next challenge on the horizon for Bollan and his team is Saturday’s grudge match against Albion Rovers at Almondvale.

The Coatbridge side have already handed out two defeats to the Lions on cup and league duty at Cliftonhill and the Livi players are eager to make amends.

And the match official for what could be a tough encounter will be Northern Irish referee Raymond Crangle as the Belfast-based whistler will take charge of the lunchtime kick-off game as part of a referee exchange scheme.

He will become the latest visitor to Scotland to take part in the scheme, which is operated between the SFA, the Northern Irish FA, the FA of Ireland and the FA of Wales.

Crangles’s normal Saturday appointments involve Northern Ireland’s top clubs in the IFA Premiership. As part of this weekend’s exchange Scottish referee Gary Hilland will handle the game between Dungannon Swifts and Portadown.