Livingston boss 'backs SPFL 100%' on postponements stance

Livingston boss David Martindale has backed the SPFL on its stance on postponements after two Premiership clubs were forced to play games despite missing several players through Covid-19.

Dundee and St Mirren both had postponement requests rejected in the weeks running up to the winter break that has been brought forward to start at Boxing Day.

Both clubs criticised the governing body over the decisions that meant they had to play despite barely having enough players to make a squad.

But Martindale has moved to defend the move and said every club had a vote on the criteria at the start of the season and agreed with the rules at the time.

He told Sky Sports News: “I agree with the SPFL 100%, if I’m honest.

“Every club was involved in these talks at the start of the season and every club got to put their own criteria forward.

“We had a vote and everyone agreed that if they had 13 players, and one was a goalkeeper and ten of them were over 18, then we were going to fulfil that fixture.”

The winter break was brought forward from January 2 to December 26 after the Scottish Government ruled that only 500 fans would be allowed to attend games for at least three weeks.

And Martindale says the current issues clubs are facing through the coronavirus crisis was another reason why ten of the 12 top-flight clubs backed the decision.

He said: “I knew this was going to happen with teams.

“I obviously called for the winter break to be brought forward a little bit earlier than some clubs because we could see this happening.

“I don’t think it’s fair on sporting integrity but we have all got to realise we all voted for this at the start of the season, so I don’t think you can lay the blame at the door of the SPFL if I’m honest.”