David Martindale: Livingston manager stays on after relegation

David Martindale will remain as manager of relegated Livingston for next season, the club have confirmed.

Martindale had indicated he could leave depending on the outcome of the club’s ongoing legal issues. Livi announced last year that Baycup had purchased a controlling interest but this has been contested by some previous directors, who claim they are the rightful owners.

Livingston finished bottom of the Scottish Premiership, ending a six-year spell in the top flight, and will be in the Championship next term.

A statement by chairman John McIlvogue, CEO John Ward and chief commercial officer Dave Black said Martindale “has earned the right to remain as first-team manager and have the opportunity to try to steer us back to the Premiership.”

The trio said: “David has been involved with the coaching set-up here for almost 10 years.

“His involvement in the dugout has seen us lift a League One title, win the Premiership play-offs, two top-six finishes, two seasons just missing out on the top six on the final game before the split, a national cup final appearance and a club record six consecutive seasons in the top flight.

“For a club of our size and stature, that is an incredible return – and a list of achievements that David deserves huge credit for.

“His commitment and dedication to the club over the years is unrivalled and whilst that alone can’t be the sole driver behind remaining in charge, his qualities as a manager, as a coach and as a leader give us full confidence that David is the man we want in charge of this football club going forward.”

Martindale, who took over from Gary Holt in late 2020, this month described Livingston as “a Championship club based on budget”.

McIlvogue, Ward and Black said they are “acutely aware of the budget constraints that David was working under this season”.

And they added: “Losses in the previous two years meant that we had to convince club auditors that we could remain viable in the 2023-24 season and the only way to do that was to reduce the club’s budget across all departments.”