Reilly enters the Lions’ den
Striker signs 18-month deal at Toni Macaroni Arena
Livingston boss David Martindale says he’s finally got his man after striker Gavin Reilly penned an 18-month deal with the club.
Martindale, who had spent five years as assistant boss before taking over from Gary Holt in November, says the 27-yearold is someone they’ve tried to sign in every transfer window since the Lions’ promotion to the Premiership.
Reilly was previously with English League Two side Carlisle United where he netted just once in 21 appearances, although he started just six of those games.
However, the gaffer believes he’s getting someone who’s shown he can do it in Scottish football. He notched 22 goals in 2017/18 to help guide St Mirren to the Championship title before moving to Bristol Rovers.
Speaking exclusively to the Courier, Martindale commented: “Gavin’s someone we’ve nearly signed every window since we got promoted but for one reason or another it just hasn’t quite happened.
“He’ll bring a wee bit of pace up top and he knows Scottish football. He scored a lot of goals in his season at St Mirren before he left to go to England.
“He was a player I always liked when he was at Queen of the South and we continued to track him and rate him highly when he was at Hearts and then St Mirren.
“He’s a good finisher and uses his body very well in link-up play but he’s got a turn of pace on him as well.
“He’s coming in on an 18- month contract and it will add value to the squad and give us another option. He’s a very good player who will push for a starting place.”
Reilly is the first piece of business to be done by Livi in the transfer window but the boss insists it won’t be the last.
And, while he he has no desire for anyone to leave the club, he admits it could be inevitable.
He said: “There’s nobody leaving just now but there might be one or two.
“I suspect there will be a couple moving on but it will be more through the choice of the player rather than the club. We’ve got a lot of games coming up and I don’t want to be losing players.
“I think we’ll probably lose one or two but we’re definitely looking at bringing in another two.”