Busy month doesn’t faze Holt
Livingston boss Gary Holt insists he “loves” the fact that the Lions will play eight games in December – because it’s far better than training every day.
The Premiership new boys start their frantic month on Saturday when Motherwell travel to the Tony Macaroni Arena – the start of a spell that sees them play five games in the space of 13 days.
They end the month with a home clash against Aberdeen on December 29, before the winter break.
The gaffer commented: “I can’t wait, to be honest. Any footballer would rather be playing games than training so I love the fact we’ve got eight games coming up in December.
“That was my mentality when I was playing and I’m sure the players will feel that way as well.
“It’s obviously a very intense schedule with a game coming up every three or four days but we’ll look after the players and prepare them as best as we can.
“We’ll embrace the challenge and look forward to it. We’re at a level now with the winter break that means games are crammed in a wee bit in December but that’s great. We’re not going to run away from it and moan because this is the level where we want to be.”
The busy schedule means the manager will have to utilise the full squad, but he says he has no doubts that the players on the fringes will make the most of their opportunities when they are given the chance.
He said: “There will have to be changes on a game-togame basis because there will be injuries, illnesses and suspensions that we’re going to have to battle with, but we’ve got a very good squad and it just becomes a case of next man up.
“Guys have stepped up when needed and performed well all season and I don’t expect that to change.
“Everyone who has come in has done well and taken their chances and that’s all you can ask for as a manager.
“We’re not going to be able to play the same starting 11 every game in December. It’s just not going to happen, and that’s when you want other folk to make the most of their opportunity.”