Ex-Hibs kid left out in the cold by Lions

AXED Hibs kid Steven Notman today revealed how he has become an unwitting victim of the Italian revolution at Livingston.

Released by the Easter Road club, the 21-year-old was looking forward to beginning pre-season training with the First Division outfit at the invitation of former Hibs coach Mark Proctor.

But Proctor was ousted as manager of the Almondvale club after owner Pearse Flynn sold out to an Italian consortium led by businessman Angelo Massone, reputedly for just £1.

Proctor was replaced by Italian Roberto Landi, who will be assisted by former Livingston boss Davie Hay, but Notman, who is desperate to resurrect his career, has been left in limbo.

It's the latest blow to the youngster who, only two years ago, was on the fringes of then manager Tony Mowbray's plans only to be ravaged by injury, most notably breaking a foot three times.

As a result, Notman, a one-time team-mate of Hibs stars such as Steven Fletcher, Lewis Stevenson and Kevin McCann, fell out of the picture to the extent he asked to leave.

He said: "Mark knew me from Easter Road and he wanted me to go with Livingston for pre-season purely to prove my fitness. I've been unlucky with a metatarsal in my foot but I haven't been bothered by it for long enough now.

"Mark seemed 95 per cent certain he'd offer me a contract but then he was sacked and that seems to be an end to it."

Notman, currently working as a landscape gardener, had spent time on loan at both Livingston and Berwick Rangers and has been training with his local side Vale of Leithen, but he is desperate to get back into top-class football.

He said: "Obviously I'd love to be playing full-time having spent four-and-a-half years at Easter Road and, at 21, I feel I am still young enough to do so. But I'd certainly consider part-time football.

"Perhaps the fact I can play a number of positions, at the back and in midfield, rather than just one counted against me a bit at Hibs but I feel the main problem was I was a victim of circumstance.

"I appeared to be in Tony Mowbray's plans – I even went to Holland pre-season a couple of years ago with the squad – but then I broke my foot during a reserve game at Inverness.

"Then Tony left and John Collins came in. I didn't feel I was getting a chance so I went to see him and told him I wasn't happy and wanted away, while he told me he didn't think I would get into his first team so he agreed to release me.

"I can only wonder how things might have turned out had I not had those injuries but, as I have said, I'm over them now and desperate to find a new club."