Bullock delighted to be handed Livi chance after Dens exit

May 13 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

VETERAN keeper Tony Bullock has lost no time in converting his exit from Dens Dens Park into a welcome entrance at Almondvale.

Despite being released by Dundee along with eight other players, he jumped in his car a free agent with no fears about his future.

The keeper believed that despite being 38 years old, he was as fit as ever with years ahead of him on the pitch.

He was convinced he would have no shortage of offers to prolong his distinguished career between the sticks.

And the very next day he was proved right, as Bullock arrived at Almondvale to put pen to paper on a two-year deal with Livingston as player-coach.

And he couldn’t be happier.

He said: “I was very confident I’d keep playing and to be honest it didn’t even enter my head that I’d give up.

“I’d signed for Dundee the year before and hadn’t expected to play as often as I did and knew I’d done really well.

“I go back a long way with Gary Bollan and Scott Paterson and I had been talking to them previously.

“A move to Livingston was always on the cards but nothing could be finalised or agreed until we saw what happened with Dundee.

“Once Dundee released me I was at Livingston the next day and everything was agreed.

“It worked out really well and I’m delighted with how things have turned out.

“Even at my age I believe I have a lot to offer and I feel as fit as I ever have and am as agile as I can be.

“I’ve signed a two-year deal with Livingston but I’m even looking beyond that and I’d love to stay longer.”

Bullock will fulfil two roles at Livingston as both a player and as a goalkeeping coach, working with the exciting young keepers at Livingston.

The departure of Roddy McKenzie from Livi had left boss Gary Bollan with a gap for an experienced keeper who could also coach and help bring on the emerging shot-stoppers.

Bullock became available at just the right time for Livingston, who moved quickly to tie him down on a two-year deal to the delight of the far-travelled goalie.

“I have signed as a player-coach but having played 25 games in the First Division last season, I feel I have a lot to offer and I’d like to be playing next season,” he admitted.

“But I’m also here to help the young players and Livingston have two very exciting young keepers.

“Hopefully I can pass on my experience and know-how to them and I can push them and they can push me.

“It will be up to the manager who plays on a Saturday afternoon but whoever plays will have my full backing as I am a coach as well as a player.”

The veteran visited Almondvale last season when Dundee came calling in the Scottish Cup only to see the young Lions dominate the then-First Division leaders.

He continued: “I was on the bench the night Dundee played Livingston last season and I was really impressed with Livi that night.

“Had it not been for Derek Soutar, who saved a penalty, then Livi would have won comfortably.

“I’ve seen Livingston a couple of times since then and I’ve always been really impressed.

“The Second Division won’t be easy for Livingston as I played there with Ross County and although we were the only full-time team we only won the league a couple of games from the end of the season.

“Livingston will have a big advantage though, being full-time but with that comes the tag of being favourites and they will also have the best set-up in the division.”