Livingston boss David Martindale admits Hamilton situation 'isn't great' ahead of Championship deciders

Livingston boss David Martindale believes the uncertainty around Hamilton Accies’ SPFL points deduction creates a difficult situation ahead of a huge final night in the Championship.

With just one game left in the regular season, Falkirk and Livingston are tied on 70 points at the top of the table, with the former ahead on goal difference.

Livingston know that if their rivals slip up at home to Accies on Friday, a positive result could see them clinch the title on the final day and win direct promotion to the Premiership and avoiding the potential pitfalls of the play-offs.

It’s a position Martindale didn’t think his side would be in, and he wants to embrace the opportunity.

“I think there’s more of a chance than I thought we would have at this stage of the season, to be honest,” he said.

“I was very vocal on that. Maybe a couple of months ago, I thought Falkirk were a wee bit out in front, but they’ve failed to get it over the line.

“So I think there’s a very good opportunity for us as a football club to play Premiership football next year.

“But I think the probabilities are that it’s in Falkirk’s hands, of course.”

The build-up to the decisive matches is overshadowed by Hamilton’s situation. Accies were deducted 15 points by the SPFL over a series of rule breaches, a punishment that sent them to the bottom of the table and facing relegation as they sit eight points behind Airdrie.

Hamilton have appealed the sanctions and a hearing will be held on Thursday to determine their fate. Martindale says the issue affects how he sees the situation a few days ahead of a huge match, and will also be on the mind of Falkirk boss John McGlynn and his players.

“They’re at home against a Hamilton team, and I don’t think what’s going on with the SPFL and points deduction has helped the scenario, if I’m honest,” he said.

“John’s probably sitting there thinking that if Hamilton get their 12 points back then that makes their game even more difficult.

“I’m sitting thinking if Hamilton don’t get the 12 points back it’s going to make the game a little bit easier.

“The situation, all in all, isn’t great. For a variety of reasons. For Falkirk and Livingston and for the teams at the bottom end of the Championship who don’t know what level of football they will be playing next year.

“It’s not a great look but caveat that with we don’t know the inner workings and what’s going on.

“But it would have made a lot more sense to have the initial hearing earlier, and if you couldn’t have the initial hearing a wee bit earlier, I would have fast-tracked the appeal process.

“I don’t think we should be going into, what is it going to be 24 hours, 36 hours before the league deciders in terms of promotion and relegation, before there’s a decision made.

“So I think that’s a disappointing aspect. I don’t think that’s great. But we don’t know the inner workings and how difficult that might have been and how complex that might have been to achieve.”