Hay praises Livi spirit

Davie Hay believes his players will not be intimidated

Recent cup exploits are proof that Livingston have recovered from falling into administration, according to team boss Davie Hay.

Sunday's CIS Cup final against Hibernian has boosted morale as well as the debt-hit club's bank balance.

"It was difficult for us to cope with the semi-final when the news first broke, but since then we have been very much together," said Hay.

"I have only been involved on the field and that has been mostly positive."

Livingston last month became the third top-flight club to call in the administrators.

"The very fact that we are in a final means we can put at the back of our minds what is happening off the field," said Hay.

Sunday will be another positive step in the history of Livingston Davie Hay

"The only time I thought it affected us was the Partick Thistle game, when the day prior to that everyone was given the good, bad or indifferent news.

"Since then, performances have been more than decent and commitment has been first-class.

"And, apart from this final, we are still in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and the possibility of a massive semi-final tie against Celtic."

Hay points out that his Livingston players have already made history, win or lose at Hampden.

Their first-ever major final comes just nine years after the club was established.

During that time, they have won the Third, Second and First Division titles and made their debut in the Uefa Cup.

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"The players have made history already by getting into Europe and it will never be forgotten," he said.

"Sunday will be another positive step in the history of Livingston. Nothing surprises you in football, but we have come a long, long way in a short space of time."

While Hibs asked for extra tickets and fans queued overnight to buy them, Hay has had to send his players out to local schools to plead for more support.

"But we would rather have 37,000 Hibs fans ensuring that the stadium is full rather than have 8,000 fans each and have the place half empty," he said.

"A small band of supporters compared to the Hibs fans are coming, but they will help make it an occasion."