The story behind the fan Twitter vote 'to decide' a Scottish club goalkeeper's fate
It’s all for a good cause.
by AFP
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL CLUB Livingston have taken an unusual approach to working out whether to keep goalkeeper Gary Maley — asking supporters on Twitter to decide his fate.
The part-time goalkeeper’s contract expires in June and the Scottish Premiership side, whose season has now finished, reached out with a tongue-in-cheek post.
“Quite possibly a football first but we’re giving you the chance to decide on the future of goalkeeper @Maley1Gary,” Livingston tweeted.
“With his contract expiring next month, we’re leaving it in the hands of the fans as to whether or not we offer “Stretch” an extension. Stay or go – you decide!”
But the goalkeeper was in on a stunt that has benefited a children’s charity.
Assistant manager David Martindale, who was Maley’s best man at his wedding, pledged a pound (€1.12) to charity for every vote but the poll has attracted almost 200,000 votes as well as stinging criticism from people who were unaware of the background.
Maley said: “He mentioned my contract and I said ‘Look, give it to one of the kids, I am 37, I am nearly done’. He said, ‘We will have a bit of fun with it, have a laugh, we will put up a vote on Twitter’.
“Davie said he would put a pound in per-vote for charity, thinking we would get 500 votes. Obviously it escalated something ridiculous and Davie soon withdrew that offer.”
He added: “It looks as though I’m going to win the vote and extend my deal but I said I will donate the next two months’ wages to charity and Davie will match that.”