KELLY CAN LIV IT UP NOW AT HIS NEW HOME

DAVID MARTINDALE has praised Stephen Kelly for finding a new “home” away from Rangers – and revealed the Ibrox club will be due a substantial cash windfall if the midfielder thrives at Livingston.

Kelly penned a threeyear deal in a permanent move to Almondvale when loan offers – like those he has previously enjoyed at Ayr, Ross County and Salford – would have allowed him to see out his contract at Rangers.

Martindale also claimed bigger deals than Livi’s were on the table but the Light Blues saw the Lions as the best next step for the youngster, below.

Leaving Rangers after 15 years has been a wrench for Kelly but Martindale believes the 22-year-old deserves great credit for seeing the bigger picture in his career development.

He said: “I’ve said to him it’s important he found a family home. He has been at Rangers since he was seven. That’s a huge amount of time to spend at any football club.

“He has been out on loan and had options to go out on loan again.

“But it was important for him to go somewhere, knuckle down and know he’s going to play.

“It’s pleasing. There’s a pretty big sell-on as part of the deal. That’s fair. Why shouldn’t Rangers maximise their asset?

“They’ve trusted us to take their player. We potentially could do well out of him – in which case so will Rangers.

“They had offers that were probably a lot better than Livingston’s. But they have trusted us with the next career step for Stephen. My job is to bring in assets and I need big clubs to trust me with their players.

“He knew he had to (leave Rangers). I’ve told him he’s coming here to play, not sit on the bench.

‘But he has to take his time and play his way into the team. It’s a huge jump from a psychological point of view. He has to get used to how we work every single day at this club.

“When you go out on loan there’s a lot of pressure to play from fans and parent clubs. I wanted to take some of that pressure off Stephen’s shoulders. I just want him to develop and progress as a player.

“I’m sure he’s capable of doing that and that’s why we’ve given him a three-year deal.”

Kelly should make his debut today against Hearts. Martindale admits old boy Alan Forrest will be a big threat as he returns for the first time since his Jambos move.

Ruing Forrest’s exit on a free transfer, he added: “They got a ready-made Alan Forrest, when he came here a lot of coaching went into him.

“It was my mistake. I only got him on a two-year deal initially because there is a learning period. It has bit us on the bum slightly.

“I knew he’d hit the ground running. He better not come here bursting to do well! He’s a diamond. He goes out every Saturday to

play well.”