Livingston manager David Martindale may leave club if ownership dispute goes against him

Livingston manager David Martindale has hinted at the possibility of leaving the club if the ongoing legal battle over ownership does not go in favor of those he believes are the rightful owners. The dispute arose after Baycup purchased a controlling interest in the club, a move contested by some previous directors who claim ownership.

Martindale emphasized the importance of a clear ownership structure for Livingston to move forward, stating, “For Livingston Football Club to move forward it needs clear ownership structure.” He expressed his loyalty to the club but acknowledged that a negative court decision could lead to his departure, saying, “Probably not could – probably would. I wouldn’t want to. For me I’ve been very, very loyal to Livingston but they have been very, very loyal to me.”

Despite the off-field uncertainty, Martindale praised the team’s performance on the pitch, highlighting their achievement of staying in the Premiership for six years despite budget and fan-base limitations. He expressed a desire to lead the team back to the top flight but acknowledged that the situation is beyond his control.

Livingston will conclude their season with a match against Hibernian on Sunday, with Martindale reflecting on the need for a “massive reset” for the club both on and off the pitch. The outcome of the ownership dispute will likely have significant implications for the future direction of Livingston Football Club.