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From scotsman.com:
Oslo club sound warning to Livingston
LIVINGSTON were last night warned that a link-up with Manchester United might not be all it promises to be.
Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon has confirmed the FA Premiership champions hope to agree a deal with the Almondvale club and establish a foothold in Scotland.
The move has been widely welcomed in West Lothian but Norwegian side Oslo Ost, who agreed a partnership two years ago, feel they have been badly let down by Sir Alex Ferguson and the Old Trafford club. Ost claim United have backtracked on promises to farm out players and have also not received any financial assistance.
Sporting director Stein Madsen said: "We are disappointed by United. The club have promised us players, but nothing has happened. I thought the deal was meant to go two ways. We want both players and money."
Madsen claims Ost have been snubbed since Ferguson visited Norway to set up the agreement. He said: "Since then, nothing has happened regarding the first team. United have been here and instructed talents in our youth clubs, but at the senior stage they haven’t contributed.
"The co-operation has been one-sided and not as we had hoped. We wanted to see United help us in the difficult situation we are in now."
Club captain Espen Grina said: "I don’t think Oslo Ost have had a profit out of the United deal. It sounds nice, but we haven’t seen anything of the co-operation. There was talk about getting a United player last season, but it died out."
Nevertheless, both United and the Scottish Premierleague club remain positive about their potential partnership. United believe Livingston’s central location makes them the ideal Scottish candidate and Kenyon hopes to complete a deal soon.
Almondvale chairman Dominic Keane yesterday stressed that the term "feeder club" was inaccurate and insisted that the arrangement would be focused on youth development. "I would be delighted if one of the young players we have comes through this programme and eventually plays at Old Trafford," he said.
"Hopefully this will enable us to retain young players who may have otherwise felt we are not a big enough club."
Manchester United are also in talks with Newport County and MVV Maastricht of Holland, having already tied up similar agreements with Sao Paulo, Sporting Lisbon, Nantes, Walsall and Welsh minnows Connah’s Quay this summer.
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