Latest news with #Martindale
Daily Record
3 days 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.'
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Martindale reveals half-time talk that helped Livingston to promotion
But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Tete Yengi all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win on the night and 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season. And Martindale revealed he had told his players at half-time that if they scored next, they would go on to win the tie. 'It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral,' Martindale said. 'It was great come full-time for Livingston and Livingston fans. 'It was an interesting game. They went 2-0 up, but it was early enough that I felt we still had a chance, and Lewis Smith comes up with a great individual goal. 'The message at half-time was to get the next goal, because we thought if we did that we would be playing in the Premiership next year. 'That's easy to say afterwards, but we had massive belief in the players and that's what happened, so I'm happy for them.' Ross County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed with the outcome as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. 'When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out,' he said. 'Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership over the two legs, if I'm being honest. 'We didn't respond well enough after conceding the first goal tonight and looked vulnerable. 'I'm never going to make excuses. I just think momentum is a big thing in football and for whatever reason we lost one or two games and it seemed to set us back. 'We didn't respond well enough in that period to get back to winning games of football. I think that was evident tonight, from a really commanding position we found a way to lose the tie.'
The National
5 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Martindale reveals half-time talk that helped Livingston to promotion
Goals from Josh Nisbet and Ronan Hale – who scored the last-gasp equaliser in the first leg – put Premiership side Ross County 2-0 up after 24 minutes. But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Tete Yengi all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win on the night and 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season. And Martindale revealed he had told his players at half-time that if they scored next, they would go on to win the tie. 'It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral,' Martindale said. 'It was great come full-time for Livingston and Livingston fans. 'It was an interesting game. They went 2-0 up, but it was early enough that I felt we still had a chance, and Lewis Smith comes up with a great individual goal. 'The message at half-time was to get the next goal, because we thought if we did that we would be playing in the Premiership next year. 'That's easy to say afterwards, but we had massive belief in the players and that's what happened, so I'm happy for them.' Ross County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed with the outcome as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. 'When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out,' he said. 'Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership over the two legs, if I'm being honest. 'We didn't respond well enough after conceding the first goal tonight and looked vulnerable. 'I'm never going to make excuses. I just think momentum is a big thing in football and for whatever reason we lost one or two games and it seemed to set us back. 'We didn't respond well enough in that period to get back to winning games of football. I think that was evident tonight, from a really commanding position we found a way to lose the tie.'
STV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
David Martindale: Livingston's loyalty in me paid off with promotion
Livingston manager David Martindale believes the club's loyalty to him has paid off after the Lions secured their return to the Scottish Premiership through the play-offs. A dramatic 4-2 second-leg comeback win clinched a 5-3 aggregate win over Ross County as Livingston bounced back to the top flight at the first time of asking after relegation this time last year. The club stuck with Martindale when many others in his position had been relieved of their duties, and the Livi boss believes that decision has been vindicated with how the campaign has ended. 'Last season was difficult, but the club stood by me,' Martindale said. 'It was difficult, and I think the managerial turnaround in football in general is really hard to build success. 'The club stuck by me last year, but I think I had credit in the bank from what I'd done brilliantly. 'That continuity has paid off. We are the first Livingston squad in history to win promotion and win the Trust Trophy, which are two massive moments in this season. 'I'd like to think that character, ability and resilience are traits that I carry into training every day, and hopefully that rubs off on the players. 'I think they showed that tonight. They showed real personality, belief and resilience, and I'm so proud.' Ross County manager Don Cowie refused to be drawn on what the future may hold for the club in the Championship, but did remain adamant that he wanted to stay in charge and try to guide them back into the top flight. 'It's obviously raw right now – really sore,' he said. 'We'll need to have those conversations, because we've been waiting to see what league we're in, but what I do know is, as much as I'm hurting right now and as sore as it is – and I accept the last few months have not been good enough – I've got huge belief in myself and motivation that I can get this club back to the Premiership. 'David Martindale is a prime example of that. This time last year, getting relegated with Livingston and responding by winning the play-offs this year. 'Those conversation will take place. It is really raw and sore, but the support I've had in this really challenging spell from the chairman Roy MacGregor and chief executive Steven Ferguson has been incredible, and also my family because it has been a tough time. 'I've been in football a long time and it can be tough. It makes you stronger, more determined and more resilient.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
David Martindale reveals half-time talk that helped Livingston to promotion
Goals from Josh Nisbet and Ronan Hale – who scored the last-gasp equaliser in the first leg – put Premiership side Ross County 2-0 up after 24 minutes. But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Tete Yengi all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win on the night and 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season. And Martindale revealed he had told his players at half-time that if they scored next, they would go on to win the tie. 'It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral,' Martindale said. 'It was great come full-time for Livingston and Livingston fans. 'It was an interesting game. They went 2-0 up, but it was early enough that I felt we still had a chance, and Lewis Smith comes up with a great individual goal. 'The message at half-time was to get the next goal, because we thought if we did that we would be playing in the Premiership next year. 'That's easy to say afterwards, but we had massive belief in the players and that's what happened, so I'm happy for them.' Ross County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed with the outcome as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. 'When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out,' he said. 'Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership over the two legs, if I'm being honest. 'We didn't respond well enough after conceding the first goal tonight and looked vulnerable. 'I'm never going to make excuses. I just think momentum is a big thing in football and for whatever reason we lost one or two games and it seemed to set us back. 'We didn't respond well enough in that period to get back to winning games of football. I think that was evident tonight, from a really commanding position we found a way to lose the tie.'
