YOUR TEAM-BY-TEAM GUIDE TO THE NEW PREMIERSHIP SEASON
LIVINGSTON
IN: Marvin Bartley (Hibernian), Aymen Souda (Dunarea Calarasi), Robbie Crawford (Ayr United), Nicky Devlin (Walsall), Ibrahima Savane (Beziers), Matija Sarkic (loan; Aston Villa).
OUT: Craig Halkett (Hearts), Declan Gallagher (Motherwell), Liam Kelly (QPR), Shaun Byrne (Dundee), Nicky Cadden (Morton), Callum Crane (Edinburgh City), Cameron Clark (Queen’s Park), Matthew Knox (Brechin City), Jack Hamilton (loan; QoS), Raffaele de Vita (loan; Partick Thistle).
KEY MAN: SCOTT PITTMAN. A vital cog in the Livingston midfield, he offers some much-needed continuity to a squad that has had to cope with a high turnover of players throughout the summer.
KEY ADDITION: NICKY DEVLIN. Mainstay in the Walsall defence for the last two seasons and he turned down a new contract with the English League Two club to move back to Scotland. Had three strong seasons at Ayr United and the 25-year-old right-back should slot into the Livvy rearguard neatly.
A LIGHTNING start last season helped Livingston to virtual Premiership safety before Christmas. The Lions punched above their weight to reach the top flight two seasons ago and continued to scale new heights under Gary Holt. The well-drilled side were extremely hard to beat, particularly on their own patch. However, Livingston have been stripped of key players from a defence that was so vital to their success last season. The loss of captain Craig Halkett to Hearts, fellow defender Declan Gallagher to Motherwell and goalkeeper Liam Kelly to QPR will undoubtedly sting Livvy. The onus is on Alan Lithgow to skipper a new-look rearguard and ensure the well-oiled machine functions as well as it did last term. Marvin Bartley should add steel in midfield, while Robbie Crawford can conjure something out of nothing and was a consistently good performer at Ayr United last season. Livvy look light in attack but new signing Aymen Souda has found the net a couple of times in a Betfred Cup group that has been safely negotiated. Craig Sibbald is capable of producing the odd moment of magic and could develop into a surprise attacking star. But filling the gaping holes left behind by Ryan Hardie and Dolly Menga, who is likely to return to Africa, in the forward positions could prove to be difficult for the West Lothian outfit. Second-season syndrome could hit Livvy back in the top flight but it’s dangerous to underestimate such a spirited side.