Hopkin warns Livingston to prepare for relegation fight

JUST 24 hours after winning promotion to the Scottish Premiership, David Hopkin has warned Livingston fans to brace themselves for relegation — and said they should budget in expectation of a swift return to the Championship. Clearly a devotee of Newtonian ‘what goes up, must come down’ thinking, Lions boss Hopkin is out of contract in a matter of weeks and will open talks with the Livvy board today. And he says there will be no demand for serious cash to overhaul his squad for the new campaign. ‘We need to get players in,’ he conceded. ‘But I won’t go and get players that will cost the club money — because we will surely be favourites to get relegated next season. ‘I think we need to make sure we build for the Championship again. ‘I will get players a bit more experienced but they will have to be young, hungry and up for a challenge. ‘It will probably be Championship players we look to bring in to make sure they put in the effort and they want it. ‘It will be a tough summer, because we will find it hard to attract players to come here.’ Hopkin led Livingston to a second successive promotion when they saw off Partick Thistle 3-1 on aggregate in the play-off final, with Sunday’s 1-0 win at Firhill finishing the job. The former Scotland midfielder has been linked with a number of clubs in England but he said: ‘My future always gets tied up in the summer. ‘A lot of people are speculating, but nothing is on the table. ‘I will speak to the board on Tuesday. I have always been open with the board and they have always been good with me. ‘Both parties are honest enough, so we will sit down and see where it takes us. ‘Interest will come when you get promoted, it means you are doing your job and not being pushed out of the door. ‘When I took over here, I wanted to make sure I was here long term and it’s been over 120 games now I’ve had at the club — and it has been mostly successful.’ Goalkeeper Neil Alexander, meanwhile, insists he has no intention of retiring — because he’s been given a new lease of life at the Tony Macaroni Arena. The 40-year-old is among 12 first-team players out of contract at the top-flight newcomers. Alexander, who saved a Conor Sammon penalty on Sunday, said: ‘I certainly hope I’ll be there in the Premiership next season. The club have made it clear they want me to stay. ‘We have not sat down and negotiated anything yet but, hopefully, we will get something sorted. ‘I’m still enjoying it and the boys in this dressing room have given me a new lease of life.’