PRICE MUST BE RIGHT
Holt accepts Dykes will exit but only if Livvy get fair value
GARY HOLT last night admitted that in-demand striker Lyndon Dykes will leave Livingston — but only if the price is right.
The Almondvale club have turned down two bids from Barnsley for the striker but it is believed Livvy are holding out for £2million for the former Queen of the South front man.
But Dykes is also on Rangers’ radar and with French outfit Lille stepping up their pursuit of Alfredo Morelos, the Ibrox side could be set to firm up their interest in Dykes.
A host of English clubs are also keen on the 24-year-old but Holt remains relaxed about the prospect of his star striker departing this summer.
The Livvy boss said: ‘The club know where we are at and Lyndon knows where we are at.
‘Everybody in football (has a price). You want good value for what you’ve got and what you’ve done, and the stuff that we, at the club, have put into (developing) Lyndon as well.
‘It’s just about being honest and open with the big man — and everyone else at the club knows where the club is coming from.
‘They know that if you do really well here you’ve got a chance of moving.’
Dykes, who netted 12 goals in 33 appearances for the Lions last season, has vowed not to be distracted by transfer speculation.
He was as good as his word on Saturday, scoring in a 2-2 friendly draw with Ross County.
Dykes said: ‘I don’t really get worked up about it much. There are always things in your head that can catch you out but that never does.
‘I have been linked with a few teams here and there but I am focused on being at Livingston.
‘It’s an ambition for me to push on and play as high as I can in my career. That’s just what I’m like. I want to be the best I can and be at the top of my game wherever I am. But, at the moment, that’s at Livingston and I’m 100 per cent a Livvy player and my head is going to be there.
‘I will always be grateful to Livingston. They stuck their neck out for me. Whatever happens in the future, happens.’
Dykes is also in demand on the international scene as both his native Australia and Scotland, the country of birth of his parents, court his services.
He told the BBC: ‘My family are mixed about it, to be honest. It’s a hard decision.
‘But, I think, in my mind I have made my decision and in the future it will come out to the public.’
Despite last season’s remarkable fifth-placed finish, Holt knows — especially if Dykes leaves — that people will expect Livingston to be in danger of dropping back into the Championship.
But while the Lions boss is honest enough to suggest his side may face a battle at the wrong end of the table, he is aiming higher than mere survival.
As he looks around the league at Motherwell, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone, Holt hopes Livvy can join those clubs as stable members in the Premiership set-up.
Asked about being tipped to go down, Holt said: ‘I think we will still be there or thereabouts.
‘We know where we are at but we know what we want to achieve.
‘For this club, stability for the longer term is the aim.
‘We look at clubs like St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, Motherwell — teams that have been in this league for years.
‘How do they continually do it? How do they stay at the level consistently to maintain that?
‘That, first and foremost, is the aim and if we can build on that, then great. We’re doing that with the players we are trying to sign and with the players we have enhanced the squad with this summer.
‘The players that are here know they aren’t just going to turn up and get the jersey come Saturday. They’ve got to work at it.’
The Covid-19 pandemic that ended last season early has also made for an unusual and unsatisfactory pre-season.
But Holt, whose side kick off at St Mirren next Saturday, won’t hide behind it if his side get off to a slow start in the league.
‘Am I comfortable about heading into the new season? No but I won’t use that as an excuse,’ he said.
‘I’m not going to say in two months’ time: “Aw, but we didn’t do this or that”.
‘It’s not a proper pre-season or a normal end of the close season. But we will get on with it and do our work and diligence as best we can to prepare the boys for August 1.
‘I’d have been delighted if the season was starting a wee bit later. You just have to meet it head on. But a lot of us will just be hoping it goes okay.’