David Martindale: I was pondering Livingston future before new owner Calvin Ford rejuvenated me

Livingston manager David Martindale has revealed he was thinking about potentially leaving the club before new owner Calvin Ford came in and “gave everyone a lift”.

The American investor completed his takeover of the club in May, just before Martindale guided the team back to the play-offs with a play-off triumph over Ross County.

The club have enjoyed their return to the Premiership after a year’s absence, with four points from their opening two games.

Ford has been an enthusiastic backer since making his move to take over, and Martindale welcomes his energy.

The manager said it’s down to the team “to make sure we keep him as enthusiastic as possible” but revealed that the American’s arrival had helped him stay at the club at a time when he was contemplating moving on.

“He’s brilliant,” Martindale said.

“I’ll be honest, when we were sitting on Zoom calls back in February or March or whenever it was, it was probably in my head that I needed to try and take the club back to the Premiership and then maybe look elsewhere for my career.

“Calvin just came in and kind of rejuvenated me also, and rejuvenated the staff. It just gave everyone in the football club a massive lift because the previous years were difficult.

“Taking the club back to the Premiership with the old regime, it wouldn’t have been ideal. It would have just been pushing water up a hill again.

Martindale feels there has been a lift since the American’s arrival with his “passion and desire” that can be seen all through the club and also shared some words of backing he had ahead of the crucial play-off tie at the end of last season.

“Don’t get me wrong, it never took a lot to light our fires again, if that makes sense,” he said. “It never took a lot for that to happen.

“Calvin came into the building and just rejuvenated all of us, and I think we needed that.

“The timing was impeccable in terms of him coming in before we got back to the Premiership.

“I remember his words to me. I remember sitting in the hotel room at Ross County and a text message came that said, ‘Look, Davie, don’t think you have to take the club back to the Premiership. It would be great, but I’m here for the good and the bad times, and I’ll be here if you are in the Championship.

“And maybe that helped me in the dugout, helped me make better decisions.

“He’s just been a breath of fresh air, to be honest.”