JIM LEISHMAN has said Dunfermline will do whatever they can to help set up a testimonial match with Hibs for former goalkeeper Ian Westwater.

Westwater, who had two spells with the Pars before moving on to the capital club, has been forced to quit the game due to a knee injury sustained in 1981.

A specialist told him to give up his duties as goalkeeping coach as soon as possible, or risk wrecking his left knee altogether.

He announced his intention to quit the game this week and the Edinburgh side are keen to set up a testimonial match for him.

Despite ending a 26-year association with the game, Westwater (41) was trying to remain upbeat.

“When you get news like that, you can do one of two things—sit back and become depressed about it or do what I have done, be positive,” he said.

“I’ve had 26 years in the game and few people can say that.

“I’ve always been bothered by my knee since suffering that original injury, and I’ve had to be very careful with it.

“It has been causing me a bit of bother since the start of the season.

“I don’t just coach the goalkeepers, but train them, all the physical stuff, and as each day wore on the pain became greater and I was suffering a lot at night.

“To cut a long story short, the surgeon told me he wasn’t talking about me retiring at the end of the season, but to find another job as soon as possible.

“That certainly brought home the severity of it all.”

Westwater picked up the injury while playing for Scotland’s Under-17 side against France all those years ago, and he has undergone a series of operations on his knee since then, the latest of which came just two years ago.

Westie, as he was known to the East End Park faithful, was one of the club’s longest-serving players when he moved on to become Hibs’ goalkeeping coach in 2000.

He was signed by Leishman from Hearts in 1985 and played a huge part in the famous Pars side of 1985/86 which won the second division, racking up a sequence of 17 matches undefeated on the way to the title.

Leishman said, “He was a first-class lad and if we can help in any way we’ll be glad to.

“He was top quality.”