David Martindale said he would be a 'coward' to quit Livingston and vows to keep fighting

David Martindale has vowed to keep on fighting to keep Livingston in the Premiership and said he would “feel like a coward” if he walked away from the job now.

The Almondvale side are rooted to the bottom of the top flight and six points behind Ross County who also have two games in hand.

And it’s the Highlanders up next for Martindale’s men on Tuesday night in what is now already looking like a must-win game if they want to avoid relegation.

The manager considered his position after a heavy defeat to Dundee at the weekend that leaves them without a win in their last 14 league games.

If he thought a change of manager would be the quick fix the club needed he wouldn’t hesitate to walk away but he insists he can still motivate the players for the upcoming challenges.

Speaking to the press on Monday he said: “We have let ourselves down this season, I have let the team and the fans down this season, the players have let the fans down this season, the players have let the staff down, the staff has let the players down, we are all in this together.

“This is a huge game, it’s a huge game in the season, it’s one that we need to go out and try and win.

“After the game at the weekend, my underlying emotion was that I would do anything if I knew for a fact would keep Livingston in the Premiership.

“Obviously none of us have that foresight. So after the game, and I’ve been like this for probably six weeks, when you see teams getting a new manager bounce and then it going back, you’ve seen teams change managers and still get relegated, you’ve seen teams keep their manager and still get relegated and you’ve seen teams keep their manager and manage to stay up.

“So there are all these underlying thoughts and emotions going through my head after the game and I always try to be honest.

“At that moment in time I would have done anything to keep Livingston in the Premiership, you go back to speak to the players and to the staff in the changing room and I jumped in my car, as soon as I got in that car I was ready to go again.

“I came in yesterday and I’m ready to go again, I’m going to come out swinging and keep fighting.

“And up until matchday 38 we are going to keep on fighting as a club, because that’s who we are and that’s what I’m all about.

“I’m not about jumping ship, personally I’d feel like a bit of a coward if I was to up sticks and leave the staff and players that I’ve brought into this club.

“I speak about the collective and we are all in it together so what would that say about my character and personality If I just decided to leave? But again if I thought that would keep Livi in the Premiership then I’d do it in a heartbeat.

“I think the players and staff at this club are going through a huge period of adversity and it’s amazing what that continued accumulation of negativity does to the group.

“It can have a huge effect on you. But it’s my job to come in motivate and keep the positivity and keep the energy. So I’ll make sure we take to that park tomorrow night to get three points and fight to keep Livingston Football Club in the Premiership.

“Win, lose or draw, I’m going to come back into my work on Wednesday morning and do it all over again.