I’D BACK MARVIN IF HE LED WALK-OFF
MARTINDALE WOULD SUPPORT LIVI STAR IN RACISM PROTEST
LIVINGSTON boss David Martindale insists he would back Marvin Bartley to the hilt should his captain ever have to walk the team off the pitch as a result of a player being racially abused.
Bartley said in a radio interview this week that Livi would take that drastic step if such an incident arose.
And the midfielder added: ‘If they say they are going to fine us, then fine, we are not going out to play any more.’
His comments followed Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela being banned by UEFA for ten games — a punishment Bartley described as ‘embarrassing’ — for calling Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara a ‘f ****** monkey’.
Speaking ahead of today’s Scottish Cup clash at Aberdeen, Martindale insists Bartley, who works with the SFA’s Equality and Diversity Advisory Board, would be supported whatever course of action he deems appropriate.
‘I’ve spoken to Marvin about it and I’m going to take my lead off Marvin,’ said the Livi manager.
‘I think he’s the best placed person at the club to make these decisions. He’s working in a capacity with the SFA now, he is the captain of Livingston Football Club and he is a black player.
‘Whatever Marvin sees fit, I’ll back him 100 per cent, he is very level-headed.
‘This type of thing affects Marvin personally, so he will have 100 per cent of my backing and the club’s backing whatever he decides is best for Livingston Football Club. Having people like Marvin leading these campaigns can only help.’
Martindale, however, is hopeful he will never have to see his players walk off due to a racism incident.
‘It would send a statement if the players were to walk off, but I don’t think we’re going to see that in Scotland because I don’t think the problem is within Scottish football, I may be wrong in saying that.
‘Guys like Marvin, Efe (Ambrose), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Steve Lawson, they could maybe tell me otherwise, but I don’t think there is a massive problem in Scottish football.
‘Can we do better? Of course we can, but I think we’re in a good place.
‘If I ever had an incident where a player was found guilty of racism, he would not be at this football club, I can tell you that.’
Martindale (right), meanwhile, insists new Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass, who will make his dugout bow today, has been shrewd with his coaching appointments.
Celtic captain Scott Brown will join as playercoach this summer, while
England striking coach Allan Russell has already linked up with the ex-Dons and Hibs playmaker. ‘Stephen is obviously a very capable coach and if you look at who he’s brought in to assist him, he’s been very clever with his staff choices,’ said Martindale. ‘Scott Brown is a fantastic addition on and off the park and Allan Russell comes highly thought of. ‘If you’re working at international level with England, you’ve got to have something about you. ‘You’re working with some of the top strikers in the world, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, just to name a few.’ Aberdeen defender Andy Considine admits the intensity of Glass’s training sessions has been ‘a shock to the system’. But the 34-year-old Scotland cap is confident the new approach will energise the team for tonight’s visit of Livi. Glass has made an impact since coming out of quarantine on Wednesday and meeting his new players and Considine expects fans to see the difference tonight.
He said: ‘We had a meeting and watched a few videos of how he expects us to play, in and out of possession, and what he expects of us — more intensity, more energy. Then it was straight out to the training park and working on it, which we have done all week.
‘He’s demanding more energy in our press, more intensity, and a lot more forward movement. Already in training it has been a lot tougher.
‘There’s not a lot of time for rest in between sessions, you are constantly on the go and it’s high-tempo stuff.
‘It’s a bit of a shock to the system, but they feel it’s what we need as players and a team to go and attack teams. Even with a couple of days under our belt, the boys feel energised and ready to go.
‘When any new manager comes in, you want to impress. You can see already the boys are really at it in training and every one of us has had to hit that reset button. Everybody now has a chance of playing.
‘He’s watched all the games this season so he has a fair idea of team selection but we’re all on the same level now.
‘I suppose a lot of nervous energy comes into it. You know your place isn’t safe any more. Your place isn’t safe anyway because you can have a couple of bad games and you’re out, but when a new manager comes in, a lot can change.
‘He will have his own ideas and his own players he wants to bring in. Everybody has something to prove.’