Livingston manager David Martindale happy to share experience of prison system on TV debate show

David Martindale is happy to go outside his comfort zone by appearing on a televised political debate show to relay his thoughts on the prison system following his journey from organised crime to Livingston manager.

Martindale accepted an invitation to appear on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night show, which is being filmed in Bathgate on Wednesday night.

The programme is being screened on the same day that a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons warned that chronic overcrowding was “paralysing” the Scottish prison system and undermining efforts to rehabilitate prisoners and keep them safe.

Martindale will give his opinion from first-hand experience.

The 51-year-old was jailed for six-and-a-half years in 2006 after admitting drugs and money laundering charges, but had already begun rebuilding his life.

After graduating from university and beginning a coaching journey, he joined the Livi coaching staff in 2014 before progressing to become manager in 2020. He is now the longest-serving boss in the William Hill Premiership.

That background saw him invited on to the panel show, which features several politicians.

“It’s obviously well out of my comfort zone,” he told the PA news agency.

“I could sit and talk football with anybody every day of the week and I believe it would be quite an informed discussion. Sitting with politicians, it’s probably not my strongest skill set, but where I see the value for me is prison reform.

“I’ve got lived, real life experience of spending time in prison, coming out, being rehabilitated.

“And I feel I’ve got quite an educated opinion on the prison system from being in it and living in it.”

Martindale continues to use his rehabilitation journey for the greater good by delivering talks to those who are in need of guidance to steer them away from the path of re-offending and towards rehabilitation.

“I still get requests on social media,” he said. “I still get letters sent into the club. I’ve still done bits and bobs for prison reform, stuff like that.

“So it’s a part that I’ll always make myself available for. I am pretty happy to talk about that because if it helps anyone, it’s got to be a benefit. I’m more than happy to talk about my past, talk about my experiences.”