David Winters admits his heart has been broken with Livi exit

Dec 31 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DAVID WINTERS admits he is gutted to have left Livingston after his contract expired yesterday.

The Livi striker’s 18-month deal ended on December 30 with the 26-year-old knocking back the offer of an extension.

But Winters insists he was left with no choice after claiming the offer on the table was on such reduced terms they wouldn’t have covered his bills.

Winters had formed a superb sibling strikeforce with big brother Robbie which has helped fire the Lions to the top of the Third Division.

But while former Scotland international Robbie has put pen to paper on an extension, David knocked back the club’s final offer although he admits he is devastated to be leaving the Lions.

David said: “I’m obviously gutted having left the club as I’ve really loved my time at Livingston.

“But the club asked me to take a significant wage cut which was at a level which I simply couldn’t afford to go to.

“The figures didn’t add up and wouldn’t have covered my bills so I couldn’t afford to sign.

“If the offer had been enough to cover my bills than I’d have signed in a minute.

“However, I understand that the club have to live within their own means and within a budget as I do and it is nobody’s fault but it is a pity the way it has turned out.”

Winters also conceded the fact he won’t be lining up alongside big brother Robbie on a Saturday is another crushing blow.

The two had never played in the same side together until Robbie moved to the West Lothian club last summer.

David continued: “The main thing which is gutting me is I won’t get to work with and play in the same side as Robbie every week.

“He is equally gutted that I am not signing on but these things happen in football.

“I hope to get back into football as quickly as possible and, hopefully, I will as I feel I’ve been playing well.

“I’ve loved my time at Livingston and I was more than happy with the boys and the club but there was more riding on this than just football.”

Livingston Chief Executive Ged Nixon wished David well in his next move while he also revealed two other departures from the Almondvale dressing room.

He said: “We made David an offer to extend his contract which expired on December 30 but the terms we offered him were not acceptable to him and he rejected them.

“We made him the best offer we felt we could at this stage but it is probably not in the best interests of himself to accept it.

“We only have so much money to go round and we can’t please everyone, unfortunately.

“We understand his reasons for doing this and he leaves Livingston with our best wishes.

“Also leaving the club are Sean Kerr and Mark Torrance and both their deals also expired on December 30.”

But one player who has signed on the dotted line is Robbie Winters who has penned a deal until May 2011.

And Nixon has admitted his delight at tying down the former Aberdeen and Dundee United star.

Nixon added: “The club are delighted that he has chosen to commit his future to Livingston.

“He has been an absolute revelation since he came in.

“The board of Livingston would like to thank him for his contribution to the team so far and his flexibility in negotiations to this point.”