Mellow Martindale has turned tide at Livvy, says Bartley

MARVIN BARTLEY is adamant boss David Martindale is getting his message across loud and clear — by finally learning to lower his voice.

Martindale has been a revelation since taking the reins from Gary Holt, guiding Livingston to seven successive victories to land the role on a permanent basis — pending SFA approval, in light of his well-publicised criminal past.

Martindale (pictured) is far from a fresh face or new voice at the club, given he has been at Livingston in some capacity ity since 2014, initially shadowing John McGlynn n before becoming increasingly influential.

He started this season as both head of football operations and assistant manager to Holt.

However, as Livvy seek their eighth triumph on the bounce at home to Ross County today, Bartley admits he has seen a slight change in Martindale’s demeanour, with the 46-year-old becoming more reserved since taking the top job.

The Livingston captain smiled: ‘I actually think Davie has been a lot quieter since becoming the manager. That’s good news for everybody — because my ears were beginning to bleed!

‘That is one noticeable thing — he has calmed down and is taking a lot more in. He might not want to admit that but I honestly think that he has come into management and taken a backwards step in terms of how vocal he is. But his impact has still been huge because he has come in and won every game.

‘Foxy (Liam Fox) has also come in as a coach and given us something different, so it’s been brilliant. It’s a team effort. The staff we have here are brilliant and the boys have bought into what Davie wants to do.’

Bartley also reckons a sense of loyalty to Martindale, who has masterminded Livvy’s transfer policy in recent campaigns, could be a factor in their up upturn in fortunes.

Bartley added: ‘Davie h had the role before as h head of football

(op (operations) and was in cha charge of signing a lot of us, so may maybe a few of the boys squeezed an extra one per cent out, thinking: “This is the guy who signed us and his neck is on the line”.’

While lauding Martindale, Bartley is keen to leap to the defence of departed boss Holt.

Holt guided Livvy to a fifth-placed finish last term, but could not get a tune out of his side this season.

Bartley said: ‘Gary Holt gave everything he possibly could and, in a way, I feel bad because he’s gone and we win seven games in a row.

‘So people start to think: “Was he doing something so wrong?”

‘Well, he wasn’t. I need to put that out there — he just wasn’t.’