Martindale won’t hold back against Hoops
Livingston boss David Martindale insists his side will go out all guns blazing against Celtic, because the Lions need points no matter who they’re playing against.
Brendan Rodgers’ side may be fighting for the Premiership title while Livingston battle relegation, but Martindale says the harsh reality is that they need to pick up points.
Sunday’s home clash is one of three remaining games before the split, and Martindale is very aware of what is at stake.
He said: “We need points. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, we need to pick points up and that’s the harsh reality.
“We’re going all guns blazing for Celtic, it’s not really any different, because of where we are in the league. You’re playing a game of football and you need to try and win that game.
“We gave them a run for their money in the Scottish Cup, it wasn’t to be, and it will be a difficult game.
“They’ve had a break, Brendan Rodgers is a very good manager with top players, so it’s going to be a difficult game.”
Hearts announced last week that they had agreed a precontract with left-back James Penrice, who will join in the summer.
Martindale says everyone involved in that deal has been up front about it, and he has known for months that he was losing the 25-year-old.
But he said: “It’s always hard losing players, but when players sit in front of me before they sign, I tell them to come in and use me as a stepping stone to go on to bigger and better things.
“Money talks in football. They’ve got short careers and need to make as much money as they can in a short time-frame.
“The difficult part is when they say ‘gaffer, I’ve got a club, I don’t want to re-sign a contract’ but with James, that’s why I brought him to the club, and I’m absolutely delighted to see him progressing his career.
“The players here always are honest and up front about it. I’ve got a good relationship with his agent, with James, and Hearts were very honest and open with me, so everything was done impeccably well. Hearts, the agent, Penrice, myself, were all on the same page, so there’s not a problem there at all.”
Martindale added: “You want to sell players, but when you can’t and they do move on, you want them to move on to bigger clubs, and that’s what James has done.
“I think James has been absolutely brilliant for us, I love having a Livingston lad playing for Livingston. But on the flipside of that I’m also really looking forward to watching the next step in James’ career.
“It’s always difficult to replace players like James, but a club this size, it’s the same every season – you lose anywhere between three and six of your best players, and this season will be no different.”
Martindale hopes his treatment room is starting to clear up, and might have some big players back.
He said: “We’ve got a couple of players back from injury, hopefully. Michael Nottingham missed the Hibs game but is back, Scott Pittman has been training, so we’re in a bit of a better place than we were at Easter Road.”
Kick-off on Sunday is at 12pm.