Feels like coming home says flying full-back Brown

Jul 14 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Feels like coming home says flying full-back Brown

JOHNNY BROWN arrived at Almondvale with the ink barely dry on a one-year deal and admitted he feels like he has never been away.

The rampaging right-back has agreed a second stint with the First Division new-boys after securing his release from Hearts after a highly successful loan-spell the season before last.

Brown signed off his loan-stint with a Third Division medal in his back pocket but now he is eyeing a First Division gong with his new team-mates.

And the 21-year-old says it has been an easy return to West Lothian as the majority of players he played with are still there.

He said: “A lot of the boys are still here from my loan spell, which is great, and I know some the new faces too like Craig Barr.

“It’s a great bunch of lads here too.

“I had a call from the gaffer two weeks after the season had finished and he said he was interested in me and was asking about my situation at Hearts.

“That was the first I heard of it but leaving Hearts was a long drawn-out process, which is still kind of going on just now.

“But I’ve signed for Livingston now which is the main thing.”

Brown left the Lions last time out on a high and insists he always expected them to continue their success in the Second Division. And now he sees no reason why they can’t chase a third straight title.

“I had confidence they would go all the way up,” he said.

“I knew they were more than good enough to win the Second Division last season and, having played in the First Division myself last season, I know they are good enough to do it again.

“I think the First Division is wide open this year and almost anyone could win it.”

Last weekend’s home friendly draw with SPL side Inverness Caley Thistle saw Brown make his second bow for the club and, despite having not played in a while, he feels great.

He said “The pre-season matches have been all against tough opponents but I think we’ve handled ourselves quite well. In the second half against Inverness, we dominated and should have won.”