David Martindale is the current Sporting Director at Livingston FC in the Scottish Premiership as of February 2026, having stepped down as manager on January 31, 2026, after a remarkable five-year tenure marked by promotions, a Challenge Cup win, and top-six finishes despite a winless 24-game run prompting the change. Born July 13, 1974, in Glasgow, the 51-year-old transitioned from a junior playing career and a four-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering (2006-2010) to football redemption, earning a construction management degree from Heriot-Watt University while incarcerated, volunteering at Livingston in 2014, rising to assistant under Gary Holt, then manager in December 2020 with SFA approval post-‘fit and proper’ scrutiny.
This chronicles his Govan/Craigends youth amid deprivation, Rangers/Motherwell youth leg break at 15, junior stints at Pumpherston, Whitburn, Broxburn Athletic assistant, crime pivot via pubs post-fire financial woes, six-and-a-half-year sentence (served four, £100k seized), post-release coaching badges, 175+ managerial games (37-39% win rate, 98 wins/100 losses per Sofascore), 2020/21 League Cup final loss but survival, 2021/22 top-six, relegation 2023/24, 2024/25 Championship second/promotion playoffs 5-3 agg vs Ross County, Challenge Cup 5-0 vs Queen’s Park March 30, 2025, Manager of Month awards Dec 2020/Jan 2021/Nov 2022, new deal to 2027 August 2025 under owner Calvin Ford, then 22-24 game drought bottom table six points adrift, Marvin Bartley promotion. Readers gain deep dives into tactics (4-3-3/4-4-2 pragmatic), redemption narrative, family support (wife endured parallel life), no public kids details, controversies like SFA vetting 2021 cleared, fan demands, stats tables, honors, comparisons to Dyche/Smith for grit, 2026 role focus recruitment amid American ownership.
Early Life Glasgow
David Paul Martindale grew up in Elderpark, Govan, then Craigends, Livingston, environments rife with poverty, gangs, and territorial fights. Football passion ignited young; played juvenile for Rangers and Motherwell youths until a severe leg break at 15-16 ended pro dreams. Ambitions for luxury—big cars, watches—clashed with deprivation realities.
Post-school, hospitality ventures: Owned pubs/restaurants, but a fire without insurance spiraled finances into organized crime by early 2000s. Grew up “up to all sorts,” arranged brawls with neighboring towns, football outlet amid chaos.
Family Background
Limited public details; wife supported through imprisonment (“parallel life”), vouched for coaching entry. No kids mentioned; focuses narrative on personal accountability.
Junior Playing Days
No pro contract post-youth injury; turned junior: Pumpherston, Whitburn Juniors Super League, West Calder United, Linlithgow Rose mentions. Regular starter, but semi-pro level.
Broxburn Athletic assistant manager pre-Livingston, building badges. Junior experience honed competitive edge, though non-league.
Crime Imprisonment Era
Arrested Easter 2004 Operation, trial Edinburgh High Court November 2006: Six-and-a-half years for drug trafficking, money laundering; served four at HM Prison Barlinnie et al., £100k assets seized. Pleaded guilty, QC noted 10 years avoided; “pure greed” motivation admitted.
Incarcerated, enrolled Heriot-Watt University construction project management degree, completed post-release 2010. Surge of anger at sentencing, vowed punishment acceptance. Path of “least resistance” rejected post-prison.
Redemption Pivot
University lecturer aided restart; coaching badges pursued. Volunteered Livingston 2014 despite media pressure, friends vouched.
Livingston Entry 2014
Started volunteer coach 2014 post-badges/degree; ops oversight, assistant under David Hopkin 2016. Stayed through Kenny Miller, Gary Holt transitions.
Caretaker December 2020 Holt exit; four straight wins led permanent January 2021, SFA cleared despite past.
Rise Trajectory
Football operations head; dugout impact immediate.
Managerial Breakthrough 2020-2022
2020/21: Took over bottom-half, reached League Cup final (lost St Johnstone), 9th survival. Unbeaten 17 league/cup run early.
2021/22: Top-six 6th place, Europa Conference playoffs. Manager Month Dec 2020, Jan 2021.
37% win rate overall; pragmatic style.
2020/21 Survival
2 losses in 17; fan favorite.
Top-Six Glory 2021-2023
2022/23: Narrow top-half miss. Nov 2022 Manager Month. Europe threat.
Stats: High points hauls, defensive solidity.
Relegation Heartbreak 2023-2024
2023/24 Premiership relegation; bottom finish despite prior stability.
Championship Triumph 2024-2025
Second behind Falkirk; playoffs comeback 5-3 agg Ross County May 2025 promotion.
Challenge Cup final March 30, 2025: 5-0 Queen’s Park, first trophy 8 years Falkirk Stadium.
New contract August 14, 2025 to 2027 +option under Calvin Ford.
Playoff Heroics
From 2-0 down aggregate; momentum builder.
2025/2026 Downfall
Premiership return; winless 22-24 games by Jan 31, 2026 loss Motherwell 2-0. Bottom, 6 pts Kilmarnock.
Stepped down voluntarily to Sporting Director; Marvin Bartley manager. “Accountability for terrible run,” grateful club.
Fans demanded exit post-Maswanhise brace.
Transition Details
Ford praised loyalty; new signings fitness issues. Martindale mentors from director role.
Tactics Style Analysis
Preferred 4-3-3/4-4-2; pragmatic, counter-attacks, set-pieces. High pressing phases, organization vs big teams.
Strengths: Man-management, redemption grit; weaknesses late runs exposed fitness.
Compares Sean Dyche physicality, Dean Smith resilience.
Key Formations
4-3-3 volume; 4-4-2 compact.
Career Statistics Deep
250 games manager: 98 wins, 100 losses, ~37% win (Fotmob/Sofascore). Livingston 175: 64W 35D 76L, 1.3 pts avg.
| Season | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Pts/Game | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/21 | ~38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 1.2 | 9th |
| 21/22 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 1.5 | 6th |
| 22/23 | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 1.3 | 8th? |
| 23/24 | 38 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 0.8 | Rel |
| 24/25 | Champ+PO | High | – | – | – | Prom |
| 25/26 | ~25 | 0 | Few | Many | 0.5 | Bot |
Awards Honors Full
Livingston:
- Scottish Premiership Play-offs: 2024-25
- Scottish Challenge Cup: 2024-25
- Scottish League Cup Runner-up: 2020-21
Individual:
- Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month: Dec 2020, Jan 2021, Nov 2022
First trophy in 8 years.
Personal Life Insights
Private; wife key support through prison, “lived parallel life.” Grew up deprivation, now transformed. No religion/kids public. Craigends ties.
Sporting Director Role 2026
Recruitment focus, player development under Ford ownership. Legacy indelible; “shaped my life.”
Practical Fan Info
Almondvale Stadium: Capacity 8.7k, tickets £30-40 Prem. Follow FotMob stats. Bartley era starts vs Kilmarnock.
Tips: Watch playoffs highlights YouTube; redemption doccies.
Comparisons Managers
Vs Dyche: Gritty survivor. Smith: Releg/promote cycles.
| Manager | Win % | Promos | Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martindale | 37 | 1 | 1 |
| Dyche | 40 | 2 | 0 |
| Smith | 38 | 3 | 1 |
February 2026 Updates
Director role stabilizes; Bartley confidence from Ford. Survival push.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is David Martindale?
David Martindale is Livingston FC Sporting Director ex-manager, 51 Scottish. Promoted 2024/25, Challenge Cup 2025, stepped down Jan 2026 winless run.
David Martindale prison sentence?
6.5 years 2006 drugs/money laundering, served 4 Barlinnie etc., £100k seized. Degree inside.
David Martindale Livingston achievements?
Prem top-6 21/22, promotion 24/25 playoffs, Challenge Cup 5-0 2025, survival 20/21.
Why David Martindale leave manager?
Jan 31, 2026, 24-game winless bottom Prem; to Sporting Director, Bartley up.
David Martindale win percentage?
37-39%, 98 wins 250 games.
David Martindale playing career?
Junior: Pumpherston, Whitburn, Broxburn; youth Rangers/MW leg break 15.
David Martindale family wife?
Wife supported prison; private life.
David Martindale SFA fit proper?
Cleared 2021 despite past.
Best David Martindale season?
2024/25: Cup+promotion.
David Martindale tactics?
4-3-3 pragmatic, counters.
David Martindale new contract 2025?
To 2027 August, pre-downfall.
Can Livingston survive relegation 2026?
6 pts from safety; Bartley/Martindale combo.
David Martindale awards?
3x Prem MOTM, Challenge Cup.
David Martindale vs Gary Holt?
Successor surpassed promotions.
Top David Martindale quotes?
“Accountability terrible run”; “Grateful Livi opportunity.”
David Martindale degree?
Construction mgmt Heriot-Watt, prison-completed.
What next David Martindale career?
Director recruitment, potential head coach return.
David Martindale Broxburn?
Assistant pre-Livi.
Livingston owner Calvin Ford Martindale?
Backed new deal, praised loyalty.
