What does Martindale’s move upstairs mean for Livingston?

The role of sporting director feels fairly recent and fluid in Scottish football. Does a sporting director oversee recruitment? Analysis? Club operations? The academy?

It’s hard to tell, as the role at every club can differ.

In the Scottish Premiership, only four teams currently have one – Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and now Livingston.

Will Martindale be as front facing as, for example, Lutz Pfannenstiel, who has been leading Aberdeen’s manager search and even sitting on the bench?

In Germany, the sporting director speaks to the media on a semi-regular basis and it’s hard to say if media-savvy Martindale, always good for a soundbite, will continue his cosy relationship with the press.

Would that impede new manager Marvin Bartley’s influence? And how involved will the former manager be with team selection and recruitment?

“I will be here to offer any support I can going forward, but I am also conscious that there has to be a clear divide between my new role and the first-team footballing department,” Martindale said.