David Martindale is set to run the rule over an as-yet unidentified forward
A striker from Brighton is being brought up by Livingston manager David Martindale as he prepares for the upcoming campaign.
As the Lions head to the Championship, Tete Yengi will don the number nine shirt, but Martindale wants to increase competition by adding a striker and a minimum of two defenders.
However, he claims that because they are no longer receiving “Premiership money,” three or four players must still depart in order to create room for this.
Livingston defeated Broxburn Athletic 2-1 on Tuesday, and they defeated Alloa Athletic 2-1 at home on Saturday. Next Tuesday, they will play away games at Spartans [Saturday] and Kelty Hearts. The first friendly between the two teams saw goals from Matthew Clarke and Stephen Kelly.
Martindale was pleased to welcome Yengi and goalkeeper Shamal George back for that game and expects new signing Ricky Korboa to join the group shortly.
Speaking to Livingston FC’s website after Saturday’s game, Martindale said: “I was fairly happy with a lot of it. There’s stuff that we’ve got to work on, but that’s what pre-season’s for.
“There are still a lot of relationships that are needing built, and if you look at the boys that are missing, there are probably five still to come in to that group as we speak.
“There are three or four players I would like to add, probably three, ideally, coming in.
“We have a player training with us who comes from an English Premier League club.
“I consider my relationship with Brighton to be good. We have some excellent relationships at Brighton thanks to [Pathway Development Manager] Gordon Greer, who is a brilliant guy, and [Technical Director] Davie Weir, who is a fantastic youngster. I also completed my professional licence with [Under-21 Assistant Coach and Professional Development Phase Coach] Gary Dicker.
“I am in for a number nine, and big Tete is still there. I have a center-back from Brighton coming up.”
“I’m fairly positive that if we can add two – a centre-back and a nine – potentially three, I’d be fairly comfortable where we are.
“Where we are now we don’t have the Premiership money, so we’re going to have to move boys on.
“It’s about balancing the squad right now, but there is money in the budget, as I speak right now, to bring one more player in, minimum.
“That’s probably going to be in the defensive area, because we’re a wee bit light there, but I’m in a fairly good place where we are.”
Martindale is pleased with the atmosphere he feels at the West Lothian club and said: “There’s new energy in the changing room.
“It was a difficult season last year, but new energy, new faces, there are boys who are keen to impress and who as staff we’re keen to
educate as well, so it’s a good wee feel about the place.
“It’s now about building those relationships, getting game-time into people.
“Jerome [Prior] came in [on Saturday], he’s extremely good with the ball at his feet, Cristian Montano was asked to play at left centre-back and I think he can play there, but it is an area we need to strengthen to bring real competition into the building.”
Martindale estimates that, with themselves relegating from the top division and League One champions Falkirk and Hamilton Accies moving up, at least six clubs will be actively vying for two promotion spots from the Championship in the upcoming year.
“Right now, every club in this league is probably going to be looking to get promoted,” he stated. I believe everyone will be interested, but there are probably six teams in that group with a pretty good chance. The league ought to be really competitive.
“You don’t have a Dundee United or a Kilmarnock, as it were. Although we are the Premiership team that is relegating, we do not have the same financial resources as these clubs.
“I really believe that no one is in the Championship.”
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