Stennyball: How Martin Christie made Ochilview part-timers Premiership contenders

Stenhousemuir director of football Martin Christie has helped to make the part-time Ochilview club Premiership contenders (Image: Robert Perry)

There was widespread surprise and no little hilarity throughout English football back in 2017 when Liverpool signed Mo Salah from Roma in Italy for a then club record £37m transfer fee.

Even Jurgen Klopp, their German manager, needed to be convinced that Salah, who had struggled during his previous stint in the Premier League with Chelsea, was a better option than his preferred target, Julian Brandt of Bayer Leverkusen.