I’m worried the virus will play a big part again this season ...we could be sitting here in 6 weeks in another lockdown
Livi boss Davie fears campaign won’t reach finishing line
DAVIE MARTINDALE fears the Omicron variant could wipe out the season.
And the Livingston gaffer admits the race is on to boost their points-per-game figure in case it does.
The 2019-20 campaign was brought to a sudden stop in March due to the pandemic.
Controversially, Hearts were then relegated from the top flight on points per game.
The Jambos were just four points adrift with eight games left, while Partick Thistle saw themselves demoted from the Championship despite being two points behind Queen of the South with a game in hand.
The decision was taken to curtail that season rather than play the remaining fixtures when deemed safe to return.
And the Livi gaffer fears this latest variant could see the game grind to a halt within six weeks. Martindale said: “I think the ripple effect with England is going to come our way shortly.
“That’s how I always try to gauge it. It’s now hitting the English teams and I don’t think it’s far away from Scottish football now.
“Touch wood we’ll see the season out but, honestly, I’d by lying if I said I thought that we would.
“I think we could very well be sitting here in six weeks in another lockdown.
“I wouldn’t agree with it but that’s where we could be.
“The virus is going to play a big part in the season and it’s now about making sure our points per game is as high as possible. I would hate what happened to Hearts and Partick Thistle to happen to the team that’s sitting 12th in the league.
“I’d hate for that to happen to any team, let alone Livingston.”
Martindale will find out today if he will be in the home dugout for Saturday’s clash against Ross County.
The Lions manager will face an SFA hearing after being hit with a misconduct charge for being sent off during October’s 1-1 draw with Dundee United.
Martindale queried the decision to show midfielder Ben Williamson a straight red card just before the break and disputes fourth official Lloyd Wilson’s claim that he used offensive language.
At the time, Martindale said: “Will I contest it? I’m going in there with the bible.
“How do you prove you’re telling the truth?
“Eight years I’ve been at this club and I’ve never been sent off. If I did swear I would take it on the chin and apologise.
“I did not deserve to get sent off and I’m going to contest it because I’m not having it.”
Livingston, meanwhile, are weighing up moves for Scotland Under-19 cap Rob Apter and non-league striker Danny Rowe.
Both have spent time on trial with the Lions this week and featured in a closed-doors friendly with Dunfermline on Tuesday.
Martindale is keen to freshen up his squad in next month’s transfer window and is understood to have looked at eight trialists during the 2-1 victory over the Pars.
Blackpool midfielder Apter – who turns 19 next month – is a possible loan target, while Rowe has caught the eye playing for Walton Casuals in the seventh tier of the English football pyramid.