Fleetwood links flatter Livi boss

But Martindale won’t force a move

LIVINGSTON manager Davie Martindale said he is flattered to be in the running for the Fleetwood Town vacancy, but insists he would only leave with the board’s blessing.

As Sportsmail revealed yesterday, the English League One club are admirers of the work Martindale has done with the West Lothian side after he led them to the League Cup final last season and secured top-six status despite the lowest budget in the Premiership.

They came within a minute of repeating that feat this season and Sportsmail understands the Livi boss is a serious contender for the post.

Quizzed on Fleetwood’s interest, however, Martindale insists chairman Robert Wilson and chief executive John Ward will determine what the future holds for him.

Martindale (below) said: ‘It has to be the first job I’ve ever been linked with. Is it nice to be recognised? Probably. A wee bit flattering? Probably.

‘Sometimes there are a lot of jobs and your name is never mentioned and you go under the radar slightly.

‘I think Livingston go under the radar. It doesn’t matter who I’m linked with to be honest because the conversation is going to be the same.

‘If Robert or John get a phone call or I get a phone call, I’ll go and speak to them.

‘And if Robert and John said to me: “Look, Davie, I think it’s a good option for you”, I’ve then got a decision to make.

‘But if Robert and John say: “We want you to stay at the football club”, then there is not a conversation to be had because I will be guided by them.’ Martindale, meanwhile, has confirmed that Australian defender Phillip Cancar is one of three players he has tied down on pre-contracts for next season. The 20-year-old centre-half has made 12 A-League appearances for Western Sydney Wanderers this season but has recently been frozen out after his employers discovered that he planned to move to Scotland. Martindale said: ‘Phillip is one of those pre-contract players but we need GBE (Governing Body Endorsement) for that. ‘Phillip got put to me, I’ve now got contacts all over the world. He’s played in the A-League and I have fantastic references on him. He’s a 20-year-old, dual passport Australia/Croatian and he’s come out of Western Sydney’s team because they knew he had signed a pre-contract with Livingston.

‘He’ll come over and I’ve got a pathway in my head for him.

‘He’s got a bit of everything, good with both feet, good on the ball, aggressive and quick, everything I look for in a centre-half but he’s got that adaptation period as well.

‘It help he’s played at a decent level.’

Fleetwood eye move for Livi manager EXCLUSIVE By STEPhEn mcgowan LIVINGSTON’S David Martindale

First: yesterday’s Sportsmail