I sit in the boss’s chair, I change in the boss’s dressing room and if results go wrong I’LL get the bullet
SAYS NEW LIVVY MANAGER GARY HOLT
GARy Holt insisted he did not ask for any assurances from the Livingston board before accepting the manager’s job, despite suggestions previous boss Kenny Miller left because of friction with No 2 David Martindale.
Holt insists he is happy to work alongside Martindale and that the management structure at the club was not an issue for him.
Ahead of his maiden game in charge at St Mirren today, the former Falkirk manager repeated his assertion that he has ‘no interest’ in why Miller departed Almondvale and says he hasn’t sought clarity regarding the autonomy of his role.
‘I don’t want assurances; I don’t need assurances,’ said Holt. ‘I’m interested in what we do as a club, what we produce on the pitch and making this a successful marriage.
‘I sit in the manager’s chair, I get changed in the manager’s room and — if the results don’t go right — it’s me that will get the bullet!
‘David and I get on great, I’ve spoken to him numerous times.
‘He is someone who is similar to myself in terms of being humble, down to earth and determined to work hard.
‘He wants the team to do well and the club to progress — and that is a goal we will share.
‘We are all pulling in the same direction, off the field as well as on it.’
A more pressing priority for the Lions is to restore the positive energy that followed successive promotion, and has been somewhat diluted in the last week.
‘It’s time to get back to that feelgood factor,’ he added.
‘There’s been a bit of negativity but we are only two (league) games into the season and haven’t had a bad start, so it’s not all doom and gloom.’
Holt will take guidance from Martindale regarding team selection against the Buddies today, given the short amount of time he has been in the building, and will work with the existing backroom staff at the club.
Holt, 45, has been out of the game since leaving his role as first-team coach at Norwich in 2016, and last held a top job in his own right at Falkirk during the 2013/14 campaign, narrowly missing out on promotion from the Championship.
Meeting the media yesterday for the first time since succeeding Miller, Holt confessed to enjoying his break following the best part of three decades in the football bubble.
‘I enjoyed being a father and spending time with my family,’ he said of his time away from the spotlight. ‘People knocked me for it, saying: “you’re a glorified babysitter”. But after being involved in football for so long — being away from home, travelling and all that — to spend some time with my family was certainly healthy. It helped me get back into a routine.
‘Did it fester, eventually? yes, it did. The school runs, football clubs and golf clubs can get a little tedious! To get back in at a management level was my aim and I’m delighted to do that. I enjoyed being a manager.
‘I applied for quite a few jobs — I got interviews for some and didn’t quite get over the line.’
Indeed, one of those jobs Holt applied for back in June was the Livingston post. He was desperate to replace David Hopkin at the helm, impressed Livvy chiefs throughout the interview process and was among three individuals who were under final consideration.
They ultimately went for Miller as player/boss, only to call time on his tenure after less than two months.
The West Lothian outfit then turned to Holt and the former Scotland international acknowledges he has endured a rollercoaster of emotions.
‘Was I disappointed when I didn’t get the job in the first place? yes,’ recalled Holt. ‘Then they got in contact to ask if I would come through again and have a chat.
‘It went from disappointment of eight or nine weeks ago to “you’ve got the job”.
‘I guess you just have to expect the unexpected in this game!”
Meanwhile, St Mirren winger Kyle Magennis is hoping victory against Livvy can kickstart his birthday celebrations.
‘It is my birthday on Sunday, so getting a win bonus would be a good way to start the weekend,’
said the 19-year-old, who, despite his tender years, is now entering his third season as a first-team regular at the club.
‘Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m always absolutely raging any time we lose, so I don’t want to be waking up on my birthday in a bad mood.’
On a personal note, Magennis already has cause to celebrate after his call up to the Scotland Under-21s squad for the upcoming Euro 2019 qualifiers against Andorra and Holland.
For the time being, however, his focus remains firmly on St Mirren. Getting some early points on the board and ensuring that there is no hangover from last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing at Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup is the priority.
‘Last weekend was one to forget,’ he added.
‘We need to bounce back, which is something we always did really well last season. We played Livingston enough last season to know what they are all about.
‘We know they will still be physical and direct, and present us with a tough challenge.
‘Their new boss will probably give them a buzz and lift some spirits, but I don’t imagine their style will change all that much.’