Latest news with #Livingston
Press and Journal
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Ross County must outline ambition to bounce back - and Don Cowie is the man to lead it, says Staggies podcaster
Ross County must quickly underline their ambition to bounce back to the Premiership. That is the verdict of Ross Morren, of the County Corner podcast, as the Staggies prepare for the reality of second-tier football next season. County suffered relegation on Monday following six years in the top flight, after a dismal run of 11 matches without a victory culminated in an aggregate 5-3 play-off defeat to Livingston. Meetings are ongoing this week to map out the club's strategy to attack the Championship, which they won at the first time of asking after they were last relegated seven years ago. With the play-offs delaying County's fate, Morren insists the Staggies have little time to dwell on the pain of the drop. Morren said: 'There has definitely got to be an ambition to get back up at the first time of asking. 'They were able to do it last time, but it was a much different Championship compared to what it is now. 'You look at St Johnstone who are making a couple of signings already, bringing in experienced, physical Championship players such as Jack Baird and Morgan Boyes. 'I look back to the season we were in the Championship, with guys like Callum Morris, Iain Vigurs and Declan McManus coming in having had good seasons in the league. 'It added a bit of know-how, alongside the experience we already had. 'There are definitely players in there to be had – it's just a bit concerning that because of the uncertainty about our own fate, has that put us behind other clubs?' Staggies boss Don Cowie indicated immediately after the Livingston that he believed he was the man to lead the club's charge to return to the top flight. Despite the dire end of season form, Morren would gladly see Cowie given that opportunity. He added: 'I would like to see Don lead it. 'That is based on the fact that after 29 games, we looked in a really strong position. 'If he can replicate that kind of form in the Championship, you would like to think he would give us a really good chance to get back up. 'Then again, there have been concerns over the recruitment which left an imbalance in the squad, and an over-reliance on certain players like Noah Chilvers. 'Roy MacGregor stuck with Malky Mackay after he didn't win any of his first 10 games, and he was rewarded with a top-six finish. 'On the other hand, in the past there have been managers who have been sacked for less than what has occurred at the end of this season. 'But I can see why the club would want to stick with Don, and show faith in him. 'Roy has invested a lot of time in him as a player, coach, assistant and now manager.' The Staggies finished in 11th spot for the third season running, but were unable to navigate a way past Livi following triumphs against Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers in the last two seasons. Morren felt the Staggies' fate began to look increasingly inevitable as the campaign wore on, adding: 'With the fact we have just been keeping our head above the water, it felt like we could only circle the drain so many times before we went down it. 'Especially with the past record against Livingston, the physicality of them and the way they were playing, there was always a fear that this might just prove to be third time unlucky in the play-offs. 'Maybe it was just me, but there was a sense of preparation that this was going to happen, alongside the run of form we were on. 'Inevitability feels like the right word. It was a case of when, not if, the luck was eventually going to run out.'
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Why Martindale has 'genuine enthusiasm' for new season
David Martindale has "genuine enthusiasm" for Livingston's return to the Premiership as new owner Calvin Ford has vowed to "back the club".Livingston beat Ross County in the play-offs to secure promotion after just one season in the second tier."I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't have stayed at the club if I felt that it wasn't possible and we couldn't do this together," manager Martindale told BBC Scotland."This time last year, it was all emphasis on getting the club back to the Premiership and fortunately we've been able to do that."Everybody at the club has done that, we've always been that underdog, but last year was one of the most difficult I've had at the club personally, on and off the park."So to find ourselves back in the Premiership, we've got new owners, this is probably the first time in my 11 years at the club where I can look at a pre-season with genuine positivity, genuine enthusiasm because we're in a good place."Martindale says Ford "won't throw silly money about" but will provide adequate backing to fund the club's attempts to stay in the Premiership."Since Calvin's come in, he's been brilliant with me," he added. "We've got a group chat. We're all on that. Calvin messages me quite a lot himself so he's given me assurances that he's going to back the club."He's not coming in to throw silly money about. That's not what he's all about and that's not what I'm looking for. Calvin's come in and said he's going to give us a chance of staying in the Premiership next year."He's going to back the club. He's going to bring people with the right skillset to look after the long-term future of the football club."
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Fraser ready to 'kick on' at Rangers after fruitful Livi loan
Robbie Fraser says he's ready to "kick on" and make an impact at Rangers after helping Livingston to 22-year-old full-back made 23 appearances for the Lions after joining on loan in January and played every minute of their play-off campaign as David Martindale's men secured a Premiership return at the first he has returned to Ibrox eager to impress whoever is appointed manager."I thought the level of the Championship was extremely high," Fraser told the Rangers website."It's a really demanding league and very competitive. Even going into the play-offs and then playing against Ross County, there's not a great deal between the bottom half of the Premiership and the top half of the Championship. It shows you how competitive Scottish football can be."It was exactly what I wanted - to go out and prove myself. I firmly believe I'm capable of playing for Rangers."I'll firstly enjoy my break and switch off, but I'll be preparing as hard as ever to go in as ready as I can be."There's a lot of excitement and fresh eyes, so it's about keeping myself in the best shape possible and trying to impress."I feel in a much better place in all parts of my game. I've got the games under my belt and have experience, so I'm in a good place to go and kick on at Rangers."
The National
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
I just helped Livi return to Premiership, here's my big Rangers target
The 22-year-old made six first-team appearances last campaign before being sent out on loan to Livingston midway through. Read more: Fraser played the full 90 in each of the West Lothian club's Scottish Premiership play-off final legs with Ross County, helping them to a 5-3 aggregate win. "It had all the emotions," he told "We had a poor start to the game, but the boys battled back, showed great character, and we rightfully deserved to win the game and gain promotion. "I loved [the play-offs]. It was high-pressure games, which is exactly the type of experience that I needed if I want to go back to Rangers and perform. "I really needed to learn the physical side; long balls and second balls. Each game was different in the Championship; one game can be ball on the ground with a good pitch and then the next game can be long balls and fighting for scraps. "At Rangers, it's more possession-based and you're trying to take the game to other teams. I just had to adapt in any way possible." Although it remains to be seen who will be in charge at Ibrox next season, Fraser is relishing his opportunity to return and challenge for a place in the team: "I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "I'll firstly enjoy my break and switch off, but I'll be preparing as hard as ever to go in as ready as I can be. "There's a lot of excitement and fresh eyes, so it's about keeping myself in the best shape possible and trying to impress. "I feel in a much better place in all parts of my game. I was also able to stay fit when I was out on loan, which is important for any manager coming in and seeing that I'm fit and available. "I've got the games under my belt and have experience, so I'm in a good place to go and kick on at Rangers. "I wanted to prove that I could get a run of games to show what I can do at both a consistent level and the top end of a league. 'It went almost perfect, but I know it's a massive season going back to Rangers."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
David Martindale would rather quit than have Livingston 'survive' in the Premiership
Martindale says the West Lothian club must be looking to challenge in the top flight Livingston boss David Martindale says he would rather quit the club than take them up to the Premiership just to 'survive'. The Lions sealed an immediate return to the top flight as they beat Ross County 4-2 in Dingwall in the play-off final on Monday, winning 5-3 on aggregate. In doing so, they became the first club to win a Premiership play-off twice, and the first Livingston team to seal a promotion and cup double in a single season. Martindale says there's an exciting summer ahead for the West Lothian club, especially with the backing of new owner Calvin Ford. He said: 'Not last year but the season before [2022-23], the season kind of petered out and it was a struggle. It was a difficult season, but we stayed in the Premiership, and I was actually thinking about my own future. 'Do I want to keep being at the club, when we were constantly fighting? You're pushing water up a hill week after week, and putting fires out, and I felt I couldn't leave the club at that point, because we were in the midst of court cases and I didn't want to walk out the club when it needed people to fight for it. 'I stayed on, then we got relegated, and I felt how hard it was in the previous two seasons, and if I felt we were going back to the Premiership and we were going to be putting fires out and pushing water up a hill, I genuinely would call it a day and probably look elsewhere. I would leave with my head held high, in taking Livingston back to the Premiership. 'I think we've got a genuine opportunity to go and compete. I'm not talking about competing for the top four, I'm saying survival can't be our goal. 'That can't be what we're aiming to do, every season in the Premiership. I know, realistically, putting it into perspective, it probably is, but it's not where I want to be and it's not what I want to do.' Martindale added: 'As a club we now have good owners behind us, there's a good skill-set in the building, and I'm hoping it's going to give us a wee bit of a better platform, so we're not approaching playing in the Premiership, and looking on it as survival – we want to compete. 'For me it's not just about survival, there has to be more, and I feel that Calvin can help push the club in the right direction. 'Financial backing is massive for a club. If I was going into that game – me, (CEO) Dave Black and (ex-chairman) John Ward, with no new ownership model behind us, the pressure would have been unbelievable, because we really probably needed Premiership football to keep people at the club, to keep the club afloat. 'Calvin sent me a message before the game and said 'we all want to be in the Premiership and playing at the top level, but if it doesn't happen this year, let's make sure it happens next year' and that alleviated a lot of pressure on me. 'It allowed me, for probably the first time in many a season, to go into a game focused on being the football manager, and not looking at aspects of the business that it would have an impact on. 'I just feel that it's the first time this club is in a good place on and off the park, so there's a real support network there with Calvin. 'I think we're going to reap the benefits from having an owner with his kind of skill-set behind us, I think it's going to be absolutely pivotal for the club.'
