What does Martindale's move upstairs mean for Livingston?

It's the end of an era at Livingston. Or is it?

David Martindale's five-year reign as manager is over, but the charismatic ex-gaffer is staying at the club and becoming sporting director.

It's a move that both perplexes and makes perfect sense.

Martindale's bond with the club runs deep, having been involved in some capacity for over a decade. He has combined his role as manager with various other positions, famously including handyman.

His grip over Livingston has felt omnipotent at times, but the arrival of chairman Calvin Ford created a new dynamic and, while he was publicly backed by his new boss, their diabolical run of form meant something had to give.

Despite that, without a win since August, Ford felt a clean break would not do. Martindale's advice is too valuable, seemingly.

But what does this mean for Livingston, and what does the new regime look like?

The role of sporting director feels fairly recent and fluid in Scottish football. Does a sporting director oversee recruitment? Analysis? Club operations? The academy?

It's hard to tell, as the role at every club can differ.

In the Scottish Premiership, only four teams currently have one - Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and now Livingston.

Will Martindale be as front facing as, for example, Lutz Pfannenstiel, who has been leading Aberdeen's manager search and even sitting on the bench?

In Germany, the sporting director speaks to the media on a semi-regular basis and it's hard to say if media-savvy Martindale, always good for a soundbite, will continue his cosy relationship with the press.

Would that impede new manager Marvin Bartley's influence? And how involved will the former manager be with team selection and recruitment?

"I will be here to offer any support I can going forward, but I am also conscious that there has to be a clear divide between my new role and the first-team footballing department," Martindale said.

Bartley's appointment as manager has almost flown under the radar, given the seismic shift of Martindale's move upstairs.

The grim reality is the 39-year-old former Livi captain and assistant has inherited an ageing squad that ships goals and struggles to score.

Livingston have conceded 50 goals, the worst defensive record in the league. Their expected goals against is only 46.2 but again, no other team fares worse.

Goalkeeper Jerome Prior has just one clean sheet this season, with a save percentage of just 56% - again, the worst record in the league.

Up top, it's not much better. Livingston have taken 231 shots and have an xG of 24.4 - only Dundee rank below them in both stats.

Livi have shaken things up by bringing in six new signings during the January window - including veteran midfielder Scott Arfield and Guinea-Bissau international Babacar Fati - but Bartley needs them to gel and make an impact quickly.

The club's points deficit was doubled to six points on Saturday when second-bottom Kilmarnock won for the first time in 17 league matches.

With 14 games remaining, Bartley - whose previous managerial experience amounts to 16 months in the third tier with Queen of the South - faces a gargantuan task in bridging that gap and ensuring Livingston don't drop straight back down to the Championship.

Malcolm: Massive respect for everything David has done on and off the pitch. He's not cutting it at this level. I would totally support keeping him at the club, but not in a football role, maybe operations director or similar. This move totally stinks, to be frank. A promotion that suggests nothing will change. Very disappointed in the owner and the board.

Clive: This change should have happened weeks ago. Every week the changes that were made were like-for-like with no desire to change shape of team. I liked Bartley as a player and captain with us, and he talks a good game. Hopefully he can walk the walk, be his own man and stamp his own authority on the team. However, Martindale has left a legacy and will be a hard act to follow. Onwards and upwards.

Derek: Not much has really changed, the full coaching team should be moving on. The assistant coach is only good for coaching youngsters and out his depth at this level. I hope he does well and I wish him all the best best but I do fear for Livingston now.

Matt: It's a belated, but nonetheless massively welcome change. Martindale has said already there must be clear distance between Marvin and his own new role, which again is encouraging. Bartley must be allowed the space and freedom to put his own mark on the side. For the first time in a long time, I feel slightly encouraged. It's almost certainly too late to save this season, but in terms of preparing early for next, it's 100% the right play.