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Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘I owe certain pundits an apology' – David Martindale makes major admission to Celtic hero Chris Sutton
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DAVIE MARTINDALE admits Chris Sutton was right to slag off Livingston's plastic pitch. The sheepish Lions boss only realised how bad the old surface had become when their new pitch was laid a few weeks ago. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Livi boss David Martindale Credit: Willie Vass 2 Chris Sutton was very critical of the pitch Credit: Kenny Ramsay Now Martindale is hopeful that the club's new MX Elite surface will be a hit with both his side and opponents as they return to the Premiership. He said: 'I owe certain media pundits a wee bit of an apology and maybe the SPFL. 'I owe certain parts of the media an apology for the last two years and I'll explain why. 'Chris Sutton had a bit of a go about the park. Do you know what? I now agree with him. 'When the pitch got put down in 2018 I was the one constant that has always been here. 'I never saw the deterioration in the pitch, really. 'I had a bit of a go at the SPFL at the tail end of last year too, saying I couldn't believe they were telling us we're not getting any Premiership football on that pitch. 'Now that we've got a new surface, I need to apologise because I was wrong. 'The most senior players here who have played or been everywhere, they are all coming to me absolutely glowing about our new surface. 'Did I still think the park we had last year was better than some grass parks I've played on? Yes, 100 per cent. I'm not going into my work relegated, says defiant Livingston boss David Martindale as they're left TEN points adrift 'But can I see the pundits and media gripes about it previously? I would agree with them. 'I was in here and I was working on it, so it was hard for me to see the wood for the trees. I genuinely believed the last couple of years our surface was OK. 'I was wrong in that assertion.' Martindale hopes the zippy new pitch could also help his team avoid being shown last on the TV highlights. He added: 'There was a lazy narrative with us previously — big strong, physical Livingston. 'You would see three minutes on Sportscene, and generally we would be last on. 'But I'm not having a go at it. Moment David Martindale swarmed by Livingston fans as he celebrates dramatic comeback with punters during pitch invasion 'That side of it is dictated by your fan base, isn't it? 'We were generally going to be the last on in the programme. 'Our last year in the Premiership was probably more ten bodies behind the ball, a wee bit more direct. 'But now we play a different shape to what we played the last couple of years. 'We actually want teams to come and press us now, but you have still got to find a way to win games. 'I'll be doing that every Saturday, but sticking as much to the basic fundamentals we played last year, and that we coached in the Championship. 'It's essential we don't deviate too far from that.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Charlie Adam spills beans on Dundee job snub as he airs thoughts on Steven Pressley
The lifelong fan and former captain threw his hat in the ring to replace Tony Docherty but never heard back The call never came. But Charlie Adam insists he's ready to answer if opportunity knocks as he seeks a return to management. Adam threw his hat in the ring for the Dundee job over the summer after Tony Docherty's shock sacking. The lifelong fan and former captain had his heart set on taking over the reins at Dens Park. But the ex-Liverpool and Scotland star never heard back from his beloved club as the Dark Blues opted for Steven Pressley. He revealed: 'No, I had no discussions at all. I applied like probably a number of others and ultimately they've decided to go a different direction. "That's up to them and they make a decision on that. "But the club is there and I'll always support them and hopefully we can start getting the season up and running and start the season well because it was a tough end to the season. "Hopefully fresh ideas and something different, then Steven can get the team winning and build something this season.' Adam was axed less than a year into his first crack at management with Fleetwood Town. But that hasn't dented the former Rangers midfielder's desire to be his own man. Adam - who left Everton after a short stint as set-piece coach - said: 'I want to get back in, yeah, absolutely. "I had 50 games at Fleetwood and came out and then went into Everton for four months at the back end of the season and loved it. "But, yeah, I want to be a number one. I want to be a coach and that's my next route and path. "I'm open to anything. I'm open to coming to Scotland and looking at what the situations are. "I looked at a couple of jobs that became available in the summer. "But, again, you have to respect what the clubs are looking at and what they've done and that's the way football goes. But I'm always keeping an eye on Scottish football.' The left-field appointment of Pressley certainly caught Dundee fans by surprise. And the pressure is already on Elvis after the Dees were eliminated from the Premier Sports Cup. American owners John Nelms and Tim Keyes have come under fire from sections of the support but Adam is totally convinced the club are in the right hands. Speaking at the SPFL Season Kick-off Party, he said: 'I put full belief into what John and Tim and Gordon do as a supporter. I've been in the club so I know how hard it is and what they're trying to do. "They're trying to build the club, a new stadium, and a training ground. But, you know, I'm a supporter. I don't put any money in. "John and Tim put millions of pounds in and they have over the years. So they make the decision about what they feel is right for the football club. "And if they feel that's the right decision, then we have to make sure that everybody keeps backing it and supports them. "Hopefully the results can improve as the season goes on. But again, they have to get more players in. "They have to improve the players. We lost a couple of good players in the summer - young players that went to other clubs, which was difficult. "But it's all about recruitment. You get your recruitment good, then that will help you. "Steven now has to try and do that, do some business early and hopefully they'll get the team ready for the start of the season.' Fans can tune into The Warm-up on YouTube - – and listen wherever they get their podcasts. Follow us on social media for loads of great content all season long, @WilliamHillSPFL. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Rangers secure group stage football with big result in Greece... but only Champions League will do for Martin
Russell Martin last night savoured securing group European stage football in his first season at Rangers — but urged his players not to settle for anything other than the Champions League. A 1-1 draw away to Panathinaikos came courtesy of Djeidi Gassama's stunning equaliser which saw the Scots progress 3-1 on aggregate. Rangers now face Viktoria Plzen in the third qualifying round with the first leg set to take place at Ibrox on Tuesday after the Czechs beat Servette 3-2 on aggregate. Last night's result means Rangers now have a worst-case scenario of participating in the UEFA Conference League. Asked if it was incumbent on his side to now aim for the bright lights of UEFA's top tournament, however, Martin said: 'Yeah, I think my job as head coach here is to always want more from the players. 'So, I'm really pleased with tonight that we qualified, but I have to want more in terms of the performance and what we're doing. We have to be better and we will get better, I really believe that. 'We're here at a football club that demands we try and win every game we play in. It's part of the reason why we're all here, so we will give it our very best shot and attack it as best we can and see where it takes us.' Martin was frustrated with aspects of his side's play, but believed they passed a huge test of character after falling behind to Filip Djuricic's header early in the second half. 'I'm incredibly proud of them,' he added. 'The team, the staff, the fans were amazing, so it's a big night for us. 'Listen, we're playing against a really good team, in a really difficult place to play. Over the two games, they've been very good, they are a very well coached team. 'It's probably as tough a draw as we could have had. So, they are going to have moments. 'At half-time they had to compose themselves and they did exactly what I asked of them — they stuck together, they fought, they dug in, and in the second half we played some really good football as well. 'But we'll get better and they'll grow so much from that. I said to the players before the game that they had an opportunity not many people get to have on nights like this and to make the most of it. I'm really proud of them.' Asked what he felt the result would do for the squad in terms of their learning process, Martin said: 'From a psychological and spirit and energy point of view, they'll have so much they should take so much from tonight. 'And also tactically and technically with the detail that we were asking from them, the second half was so much better. 'There's still a few mistakes and the pitch was tough at times for them, but they really stuck to it and showed big courage and composure.' Gassama, who scored in the first leg in Glasgow, is fast becoming a fans' favourite following his move from Sheffield Wednesday. Asked how big a decision it was not to start the winger, Martin said: 'Listen, it is a tough call to leave anyone out of the team, especially when someone had such an impact on the bench. 'But we went for consistency, players that played together more. Gas is still catching up for sure. He knows what we think of him, he also knows he has to be patient. 'He's more ready to start now than he has been before tonight, so I'm pleased with him.'
