Livi v county: we'd rather be on beach but play-off chance exciting, says boss

THE LIONS ARE PREPARING TO WELCOME THE STAGGIES IN THE FIRST LEG OF THE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF FINAL 10:29, 21 May 2025 David Martindale admits he would rather be on a beach somewhere but

intends for Livingston to follow Falkirk into the Scottish Premiership. The Lions host 11th-placed Ross County in the first leg of the Premiership play-off final tomorrow night, before

heading to Dingwall on Monday. Martindale reckons his side have grown up in the Almondvale dressing room, and are ready for the challenge ahead. “I like the play-offs, myself,” said the

Lions gaffer. “Would I rather be in Falkirk’s position, sitting on a beach somewhere? 100 per cent. “But I think they’re exciting, one of the best things in Scottish football, the play-offs.

I think we’ve definitely got that format right, and to be involved in it is exciting. “We have had a massive turnaround in players, but we kept a lot of players that we knew were going to

be beneficial to us in the Championship. “From the minute the boys came into the building to now, it has been a real progression, in terms of their relationship on and off the park. They

grew up in the changing room, and we have to take massive credit to where we find ourselves.” Watching on from the US will be new chairman and owner, Calvin Ford, who enjoyed Friday’s 2-0

win over Thistle at Almondvale, but also has a shareholding in German SSV Ulm. Martindale said: “I’ve shared some messages, communications, with some Zoom calls. He’s really, really excited.

The transitional period the club is in has been put on the back-burner, and we’ve tried to leave it much the same at this point in time. “Everybody is solely focused on taking the club back

to the Premiership, but he’s definitely excited. “I spoke to him on Saturday morning, and he’s involved in the Bundesliga as well. He was excited about the game, about how passionate the

game was, how intense, how physical, how aggressive, and the kind of basketball-type scenario Scottish football is. “I think the game on Friday night really captured his imagination and he

really, really enjoyed himself.” Meanwhile, defender Ryan McGowan hopes Livingston can take advantage of Ross County’s poor form that landed them in the play-offs in the first place.

Livingston blasted their way through a semi-final against Championship rivals Partick Thistle with 2-0 wins in each leg, while County have drawn their last two games against Motherwell and

Dundee, halting a seven-game losing streak. The Lions themselves are on a run of real form, with eight wins and just two defeats in their last 10, and Australian defender McGowan is

confident of inflicting further misery on the Staggies. Article continues below He said: “When you do get into that kind of slump, especially at the end of the season, it is very difficult

to try to turn that around. If that happens maybe in November, December, you get the transfer window to bring in some freshness and try and get a little bit of a tune out of the squad. “But

from a Livingston point of view, it’s a game that we’re looking forward to on Thursday night at home, and hopefully we can continue their poor form and low confidence, and get promoted.”