Holt advises sought-after Kelly to avoid being hasty

Livingston manager Gary Holt believes Liam Kelly must think carefully about what is best for his longterm career after the goalkeeper was linked with a summer move.

Celtic, Hamburg and a host of Sky Bet Championship clubs were reported to be monitoring Kelly’s situation amid claims he has a £50,000 release clause in his two-year contract.

But Holt revealed Livingston were in talks over a contract extension for the 23-year-old, who rejoined the club last summer from Rangers after an earlier loan spell.

The Livi boss said he has not “heard a thing” from other clubs and was not fearing losing his number one, who has kept 16 clean sheets this season.

“We are prepared to lose everybody,” Holt said. “If you are playing at this level and getting recognition, then any club will come calling.

“If you look at the best players in the world; Eden Hazard at Chelsea, suddenly Real Madrid want him. I’m sure Chelsea don’t want to lose him but that’s what happens when you are playing really well at your club: people take notice.

“So we will wait and see. He is under contract, the club are talking to him regarding a new one, and we will see how it plays out.

“But players will leave, that’s part and parcel of the game, so I’m not really that concerned by it.”

However, Holt feels Kelly should carefully consider any offer that might come his way this summer.

“I’ve always said that teams only want your good players,” Holt said. “So it shows what Liam is doing. But he has only played 30-odd games at this level. He has got to think about what’s best for his career.

“He took the choice to come here because he wanted to play, so he will want to continue that. You don’t want to take a knock in your career by going somewhere maybe as a number two fighting for the number one. He could have stayed at Rangers.

“If you come here you will get a chance to play if you are good enough and want to work hard enough.”