CLOUGHIE: A GENIUS DAVIE: UNDER-RATED YOGI: PERFECTIONIST

If one word describes Rice it's 'wise' after four decades in game

- BY FRASER WILSON

BRIAN RICE jets off to Italy on his honeymoon this afternoon having helped navigate Livingston back in among the high fliers of Scottish football.

After a frenetic season culminated in a dramatic play-off win over Ross County, it's chill-out time with wife Kirsteen.

A chance to indulge in the finer things in life, to relax on the Adriatic coast’s beautiful white beaches and to marvel at Rimini’s stunning scenery.

Inevitably, though, the chat will still turn to football. It's what brought the couple together.

A match made in heaven? Alloa to be exact. And, for Rice, it's perfect.

The Livi first-team coach, who helped guide Livi back to the big time alongside gaffer David Martindale and assistant Neil Hastings, said: “We're away on Sunday. It’s chill-out time.

“We got married a few months back in front of five people. Kenny Brannigan was my best man. Alloa brought us together.

“We met when I was managing there. Kirsteen was helping out with the food.

“She loves football. She's been at every single game this season. She goes to all the midweek games too. Scouting trips and everything.

“She loves it. She knows what she's talking about. So it's off to Italy now. I've been before - but only to play football.”

Of course, it was to play football. It's the perfect link into the story of a man who left school to join Hibs as a youth trainee, never dreaming of where the journey would end up taking him.

The new Mrs Rice isn’t the first great partnership he has made in the game.

Right now he's part of a trio of footballing brains along with Martindale and Hastings.

His years as John Hughes’ sidekick at Falkirk, Hibs and Inverness are legendary.