Why Martindale has 'genuine enthusiasm' for new season
David Martindale has "genuine enthusiasm" for Livingston's return to the Premiership as new owner Calvin Ford has vowed to "back the club".Livingston beat Ross County in the play-offs to secure promotion after just one season in the second tier."I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't have stayed at the club if I felt that it wasn't possible and we couldn't do this together," manager Martindale told BBC Scotland."This time last year, it was all emphasis on getting the club back to the Premiership and fortunately we've been able to do that."Everybody at the club has done that, we've always been that underdog, but last year was one of the most difficult I've had at the club personally, on and off the park."So to find ourselves back in the Premiership, we've got new owners, this is probably the first time in my 11 years at the club where I can look at a pre-season with genuine positivity, genuine enthusiasm because we're in a good place."Martindale says Ford "won't throw silly money about" but will provide adequate backing to fund the club's attempts to stay in the Premiership."Since Calvin's come in, he's been brilliant with me," he added. "We've got a group chat. We're all on that. Calvin messages me quite a lot himself so he's given me assurances that he's going to back the club."He's not coming in to throw silly money about. That's not what he's all about and that's not what I'm looking for. Calvin's come in and said he's going to give us a chance of staying in the Premiership next year."He's going to back the club. He's going to bring people with the right skillset to look after the long-term future of the football club."
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