Livingston boss David Martindale says ‘gutted’ quip on Derek Adams’ exit from Ross County was not personal attack

Livingston boss David Martindale insisted his midweek quip about being “gutted” at Derek Adams leaving relegation rivals Ross County was not intended as a personal attack.

Martindale explained that he simply wanted the “unhappy environment” at the Dingwall club to fester as long as possible.

The Lions are six points adrift of the 11th-placed Staggies at the foot of the cinch Premiership.

In an interview with BBC Scotland after Wednesday night’s defeat by Kilmarnock, Martindale was asked how he viewed the departure of Adams, who rubbed people up the wrong way with some of his press conference comments during his ill-fated 12-game stint in charge.

The Livi boss smiled wryly: “My honest thoughts? I’m gutted, there you go.”

At his press conference on Friday morning ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup trip to Championship side Partick, Martindale expanded on his response to Adams’ County exit.

“I made comments after the Kilmarnock game that probably in hindsight were a wee bit disrespectful to Derek but I want to put that into context,” he said.

“I think it’s common knowledge Derek was unhappy being at Ross County, I think his previous press conferences tell you that. Scottish football’s a goldfish bowl and it’s common knowledge the players were unhappy.

“So you had an unhappy manager and unhappy players and of course it is better for Livingston for that unhappy environment to remain.

“Ross County having unhappy players in the changing room and an unhappy manager who is perceived to not want to be at Ross County, I would rather that situation remained. I’m not going to sit here and tell lies.

“So I was gutted that they made that change, or Derek made that change, because ultimately the more negativity at Ross County the better it’s going to be for ourselves. But I need to focus on Livingston rather than Ross County.

“That’s just to give my comments after the game a wee bit of context. I wasn’t just being disrespectful in terms of Derek.”