It’s difficult to accurately assess Livingston’s season.
On the one hand, comfortably avoiding relegation and sealing an unprecedented sixth successive top flight campaign whilst having the lowest budget in the division can be seen as a resounding success.
On the other, though, they were sitting pretty in fourth place at the start of February and had everyone expecting a top six finish and dreaming of a first European jaunt in two decades before a late, spectacular collapse.
Seven points from their last nine pre-split games ensured it was disappointment once again. Simply being bang average would have taken them over the line - and they weren't even that good. They didn’t particularly fare better in their post-split campaign either, having to settle for eighth place.
Add in a staggering 3-0 home loss to Inverness in the last-16 of the Scottish Cup and it’s fair to say the team failed to reach their potential. That loss, and their late league form, also cost the club a pretty penny.
While Inverness are preparing for a Scottish Cup final, Livingston are preparing for a greater, more challenging rebuild than should ever have been needed. Given they missed out on not only the top six but potentially a first-ever Scottish Cup final and perhaps even a European campaign, it’s not an exaggeration to say they may have missed out on £1 million.
Now, does that ensure key departures such as Nicky Devlin and Jack Fitzwater - or the expected sale of Joel Nouble - don’t happen? Probably not. But it certainly would have made the task of replacing them significantly easier and wouldn’t have resulted in a £200,000 cut to the playing budget.
The club have already announced the signing of centre-back Mikey Devlin as gaffer David Martindale vowed to fix his ‘soft’ side but what’s the state of play as it stands heading into what could be a very interesting summer?
Courier Sport takes a position-by-position look at the squad and discusses what might be needed and who might have to move on.
GOALKEEPER (2): Shamal George, Jack Hamilton
Shamal George arrived with much fanfare from Colchester United as the club’s second-highest ever transfer fee of £78,500. He recovered well from a rude awakening in Scottish football - a debut against Rangers that saw him concede a James Tavernier free-kick in a 2-1 loss - to produce a string of solid if unspectacular displays. There were certainly no calamitous errors such as conceded by previous keeper Max Stryjek, albeit certainly not as many match-winning displays either.
An injury before the World Cup break seemed to hamper him and he hasn’t produced the same level of performances consistently since, although he’s far from alone in that regard. Still, though, he has three years on his deal remaining and there’s no reason to suggest he won’t start next season as the no.1 keeper and he may be primed for a step up having now got used to the requirements and expectations of the club and Scottish football.
Youngster Brian Schwake turning down a new contract ensures Jack Hamilton will be the back-up but he’s failed to inspire in his opportunities.
FULL-BACK (3): Jamie Brandon, Cristian Montano, James Penrice
The departure of Nicky Devlin leaves a hole at right-back - whether that’s filled by Jamie Brandon or not is yet to be seen but it’s certainly a position that Martindale needs to strengthen.
Skipper Devlin wasn’t as consistently impressive as in his previous three years at the club but it may be a big ask for Brandon to fill his shoes. The 25-year-old spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines and played just 93 minutes of football since the end of August. Throw in the fact that it’s been nearly four years since he had a decent run of games in the Premiership and it’s potentially asking too much to expect him to start every week next season.
Someone of the ilk of Richard Tait, who has left St Mirren, could be a perfect fit.
No such issues on the other side, though, as both Cristian Montano and James Penrice have proven to be brilliant options in that position both defensively and chipping in on the scoresheet - scoring seven goals between them. Both can also play further forward if needed.
CENTRE-BACK (5): Morgan Boyes, Luiyi de Lucas, Mikey Devlin, Ayo Obileye, Tom Parkes
It’s a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder with Ayo Obileye as it surely can’t have been sheer coincidence that the defence looked worse off and less assured after he picked up a season-ending injury against Hibs in early March. Even Martindale confesses he was missed much more than he’d expected.
Given budget restraints it’s hard to see them keeping five centre-backs in the squad, especially given Sean Kelly can do a job there if needed. The arrival of Mikey Devlin could be tremendous business if he’s able to stay fit. Three Scotland caps won four years ago are testament to his ability - but a grand total of 271 minutes played since March 2020 tells you all you need to know about his injury woes.
Luiyi de Lucas has looked a mixture of tremendous and erratic in his appearances since arriving from Finnish football in the winter transfer window but has certainly shown enough to suggest there could be a step up next season and that he'll provide relatively decent and cheap squad depth.
That leaves Tom Parkes and Morgan Boyes - with one likely to be deemed expendable. Parkes returned recently from 16 months out injured and is the club’s highest earner. If they’re not convinced he can remain fit then it makes sense to try and move him on while Boyes has been given plenty of chances but hasn’t really done enough to convince - although his range of passing for a centre-back is impressive.
Given Martindale has made a point of saying he wants to shore things up defensively, it’s certainly not unreasonable to think he could be in the market for another centre-back, even after the arrival of Devlin, which could see two exits.
CENTRE MIDFIELD (6): Scott Bitsindou, Jason Holt, Sean Kelly, Stephen Kelly, Scott Pittman, Andrew Shinnie
A solid, if somewhat unspectacular unit, although Stephen Kelly should surely be the focal point of the side next term. The 23-year-old took a wee while to get going after arriving from Rangers but deservedly scooped six trophies at the club’s end of season awards and was the side’s most consistent performer across the entire campaign.
A late season switch to 4-2-3-1 from the Lions suggests that may be the way the go next season, in which case Kelly as the no.10 is a perfect fit.
Sean Kelly was handed the captain’s armband over the final few games so expect him to play a huge role next term. He has grown into a dependable central midfielder having arrived from Falkirk primarily as a left-back. Brings a calmness to proceedings and has an eye for a pass while both Jason Holt and Scott Pittman are all energy, all action options in the centre of the park - albeit the latter had a down year by his usual high standards and failed to net a league goal for the first time in his eight full campaigns at the club.
Andrew Shinnie penned a new one-year deal but approaching 34 years of age it’s fair to say his best years are behind him. His intelligence and reading of the game can still be an asset and turn games around - as shown by his run and finish for a late equaliser against Motherwell recently - but it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t take a step backwards next season.
Scott Bitsindou is an obvious candidate to move on with the former Congolese international unable to make much of an impact during a loan spell at Arbroath, He joined the Red Lichties after having been restricted to a single minute of league action for the Lions across the opening weeks.
The position feels a man light, assuming Bitsindou departs, given the likelihood of Livi utilising three central/ attacking central midfielders but budget restraints may bite here given there’s much more pressing needs.
WINGER (3): Dylan Bahamboula, Steven Bradley, Joel Nouble
The attacking third needs a near total overhaul as the side struggled for goals and creativity for much of the season outside of Joel Nouble and Bruce Anderson. Even then, much like the team, both suffered a loss of form in the latter stages.
Nouble is a near certainty to be sold but visions of £1 million for the 27-year-old top scorer that were floated in January are some way above expectations now. They'll likely struggle to get even half of that figure.
Steven Bradley was a pleasant surprise and can only benefit from a full pre-season and growing with experience having now clocked his first half a season of Premiership football under his belt. Expect him to play a big role next season.
Having not started a game since January 2, it feels like Dylan Bahamboula could be deemed surplus to requirements but he showed enough flashes in the first half of the campaign to believe he can still contribute and given it’s an already thin group, it may make more sense to give him another chance rather than trying to find an adequate replacement.
Regardless, there’s got to be one, if not two, new additions who can come in and contribute straight away.
STRIKER (3): Bruce Anderson, Esmael Goncalves, Kurtis Guthrie
It’s fair to say that with just six league goals, Bruce Anderson had a down year. But by far the bigger issue up front was the complete lack of options when they were chasing a game or when Anderson was injured or out of form.
Between them, Esmael Goncalves and Kurtis Guthrie made 24 league appearances and failed to find the net with the former being sent on loan to Raith in January. And he didn’t fare much better there, starting only three games. Both players need moved on.
Martindale, meanwhile, doesn’t exactly appear to be enamoured with Anderson and has come across as overly critical at times of his no.9. That being said, six goals - including just two in his last 17 appearances - isn't the best of returns for a main striker and he certainly seemed to be suffering from a lack of confidence towards the end of the campaign.
He’s a fine finisher and he’s much improved in the dirty, physical side of the game required from a central striker under Martindale’s system but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he’s not seen as the main focal point in attack come the start of the season.
St Johnstone’s out of contract frontman Chris Kane could be an attractive option and is someone perhaps more suited to Livi’s style of play. An addition - or two - is absolutely essential or that streak of eight away league games without a goal could well reach double figures next season.
OUTLOOK: The reality is that the club are unlikely to get better given key departures and budget cuts. A run of form that saw them take 11 points from their last 14 games is surely more an indicator of what to expect next season than the one that was sitting fourth in early February. Somewhere in between would certainly be welcome, though.
Despite that, if the likes of Shamal George and Steven Bradley take steps forward in their second season then the picture feels a lot rosier as there still remains a decent core of a squad if they're able to play to their potential.
Martindale’s also guilty of over-thinking on occasion and with probably less room for error next season, those incidents need cut down. He also deserves a share of the blame for their poor form and lessons need to be learned in order to avoid a similar run at the start of next season.
The Lions have done spectacularly well to avoid being in any relegation worry during their five year stint in the top flight. Smart summer recruitment will be the key as to whether or not they can make it six.
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