Final reckoning offers another road to redemption
A FEW weeks after Livingston’s League Cup triumph in 2004, David Martindale was arrested and forced to spend a long Easter weekend contemplating life and an uncertain future from a dingy cell in Glasgow’s London Road Police Station.
Fast forward and, having been deemed to have paid back his debt to society, the reformed Livingston manager hopes this weekend’s Betfred Cup final will also give him the chance repay his employers for their unwavering faith in him.
Martindale’s back story is by now an oft-told one, his imprisonment on drugs charges sparking a turning point that will inspire a new chapter should he lead his side to victory against St Johnstone at the national stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It is easy to see the drama in the Almondvale boss’ road to redemption but Livi’s road to Hampden provides fresh context in his remarkable turnaround from serious criminal to dugout tactician. When the West Lothian side were making history in 2004,
Martindale confesses he never gave Livingston a second thought. Things are just a little different 17 years on.
“I wasn’t in a good place in 2004, in the April that year I was sitting in London Road [Police Station],” he said. “I was more a Rangers fan at that time and playing local football. I never gave Livingston too much of a thought. It was when I came out of prison in 2010 that I gave it a bit more thought.
“I just take every day one day at a time. But when I look back, it’s a great achievement to be sitting where we are – taking your local club to a national cup final. What would it mean to me, personally? I think I’d be able to answer that better if we do lift the trophy.”
ASTON Martin owner Lawrence Stroll has admitted he is tempted to offer Sir Lewis Hamilton the chance to end his record-breaking career with the historic British brand.
Canadian fashion billionaire Stroll is leading Aston
Martin’s return to Formula One after 61 years away – a comeback he has called the “biggest thing to happen to the sport in decades”.
In a clear statement of intent, the renamed Racing Point team have signed Sebastian Vettel. The quadruple world champion will drive alongside Lawrence’s son, Lance Stroll, for the forthcoming campaign which starts next month.
But with Hamilton’s latest deal due to expire at the end of the season, and Mercedes understood to be exploring their future options, would the ambitious Stroll be interested in exploring the biggest transfer in recent F1 memory?
“It is definitely tempting,” he said. “Lewis in any car is great, and I am sure everyone would say yes because he is a seven-time world champion.
“But right now, I am extremely focused on getting started this year.”
Stroll was speaking from his office at the team’s Silverstone headquarters following the announcement of a new sponsorship deal with alcoholfree brand, Peroni Libera 0.0%.
“Peroni is my favourite beer,”
he says, but the 61-year-old, who made his £1.85bn fortune through investing in fashion brands including Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger, wants his team to be swimming in champagne.
A budget cap has been introduced for the first time in the sport’s history with the hope it will bring the field closer together.
This year, teams must spend no more than 145million US dollars (£112m). That figure will reduce to 140m dollars (£108m) in 2022 and 135m dollars (£105m) in 2023. Mercedes, winners of the last six drivers’ and constructors’ championships, Ferrari and Red Bull have all been operating at costs in excess of £300m a year.
Stroll added: “From a competitive point of view, the budget cap changes the sport dramatically.
“The big three teams were significantly outspending everyone and probably had 400-500 more staff. All of that has now gone.
“Here, we are building a brand new state-of-the-art facility. It will be the most modern facility in Formula One.
“This team has punched above its weight with significantly less resources, and I sincerely believe with the same amount of people and the same budget, there is no reason why world championships are not very much on the cards.
It is very realistic to think that.”