'Hire and fire' not good for Scottish football
Livingston manager David Martindale says the "hire and fire nature" of Scottish football is not helping clubs or their team bosses - and that he himself is an example of the benefits of "continuity".With five out of the 12 Scottish Premiership clubs going into the new season with new men in charge, the average tenancy for a manager in the country's top flight is now 12.7 months.And, at four years, 198 days, Martindale is now the longest-serving in the Premiership and third longest in the Scottish Professional Football League's four divisions."I don't think the way football is going is the way forward," said the 50-year-old who has led Livingston back to the top flight at the first time of asking after relegation the season before.
"I'm a big believer in continuity, but I think social media and fan pressure play a part in trying to get instant results."Livingston stuck by Martindale, despite his side finishing bottom, 10 points adrift of Ross County, amid a protracted takeover of the West Lothian club.Now owned by Calvin Ford, the American businessman has kept hold of the man who has been part of Livingston's backroom team for 11 years and who led his side to second place in the Championship and a win over County in the Premiership Play-off."If you use my scenario at Livingston, it was a tough season the season before, the club stuck by me and we have managed to take them back to the Scottish Premiership," Martindale said."This hire and fire nature, I don't think it is beneficial to the clubs. I don't think it's beneficial to managers trying to do their job."I am obviously biased, but I think continuity plays a huge part in the success of a football club."If you look at Livingston, they stuck by me in tough times and we won a cup [Challenge Cup] last season and got promoted."Martindale admitted that he went through "periods of self-reflection and lacking a bit of belief" but is delighted he "managed to repay the fans and the club".While Livingston's main goal would be to avoid relegation "and consolidate" in the coming season, "within the four walls, we will have aspirations to do a little bit better".Martindale will again have one of the lowest budgets but vowed not to talk about those this time as "we've got a little bit more than we've had in previous seasons".
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