BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Cowdenbeath loan star Kieran Gibbons has already seen his parent club Livingston condemned to a nerve-shredding relegation playoff.
He is desperate to avoid the same fate with the Blue Brazil as their League One survival bid goes down to the wire.
Cowden are fighting for their lives at the foot of the table under rookie boss Colin Nish and go into the final game of the campaign against Stranraer sitting in ninth place.
The Stair Park outfit, conversely, occupy the final promotion playoff place but could be caught by Albion Rovers and Airdrieonians – ensuring a fraught finale at both ends of the table.
And watching his Livi teammates face the dreaded drop has only made him more determined to get out of trouble.
“It’s certainly not pleasant seeing Livingston down there and it’s something we’ll be desperate to avoid at Cowdenbeath,” said the 21-year-old. “I still train at Livi during the week so I can see how hard they have worked and their disappointment.
“I think they have the quality to get out trouble and there is plenty of quality in the dressing room but, having played in League One, I know how good the sides they will face are, so it will be a challenge.
“However, my priority this weekend is to get the win for Cowdenbeath and hopefully we won’t be in the same situation.”
Even if the Fifers do claim a stunning triumph at Stair Park, they must hope Brechin and Stenhousemuir, facing Forfar and Albion Rovers respectively, fail to win.
“Unfortunately the result last week, losing 3-1 to Stenhousemuir, means our fate isn’t in our own hands,” continued the former Aberdeen youngster. “We need to make sure we leave the pitch with no regrets. We need to do our part.
“It is the biggest game of our season, without a doubt, and if we can do our bit then hopefully other results will go our way.”
Gibbons acknowledges he is also playing for his own future with his contract set to expire this summer.
The young midfielder thrived at Livi under Mark Burchill, making 23 appearances before finding first-team football harder to come by under his replacement, David Hopkin, and ultimately joining Cowden.
“I am out of contract this summer so we will sit down for a chat at the end of the season with Livingston and see what the plans are,” he added.
“This is my first proper full seasons as a first-team player and I think I can be quite happy with it. I played most weeks under Mark Burchill at Livingston, but when Hoppy [David Hopkin] came in he told me my opportunities would be a bit more limited.
“I don’t regret coming to Cowdenbeath at all. I’m a young player and I need to get games to develop and that is exactly what I have had at Cowden. They have been great with me and I’d love to help them stay in League One.”
