Livingston boss David Martindale has given Leigh Griffiths a chance at a Scottish Premiership swansong with the striker in training at the West Lothian club – claiming his problems 'are nowhere near mine'.
Griffiths, 32, oversaw an exit from Celtic in the first few weeks of Ange Postecoglou 's reign, with Dundee taking the star on loan after Hoops fans because disillusioned with Griffiths' off-the-field matters at Parkhead. More controversy followed at Dens Park after he booted a smoke bomb at Aberdeen fans before his contract was terminated by Celtic at the end of January this year.
Spells at Falkirk and Australian third-tier outfit Mandurah City have since occurred, but having left the team from Down Under recently, Griffiths is back on the scrap heap as a free agent. Livingston have taken him into training, with many raising their eyebrows at the deal. But Martindale, who previously spent four years in prison for organised crime, claims that the former Hoops star deserves another chance - as his problems and history are 'nowhere near' the level of his own.
“Everybody knows my history, and Leigh’s history is nowhere near mine - but I think he needs a chance," Martindale said ahead of Livingston's home game against St Johnstone at the weekend.
“I’m here to help him, I want to try and get him fit but he’s got huge knowledge in the game. He’s been in doing a few striker sessions, and I’ve been making Leigh join in and give us a bit of input. He’s been brilliant, honestly, he’s been fantastic, with Brucie (Anderson), Joel (Nouble), Dylan (Bahamboula) and big Kurtis (Guthrie).
“I’m not going to tell you what I’m doing this afternoon, but I’ve got him in doing a bit with me and he’s going to have a huge say in that session as well. Whatever you want to say or whatever has happened, Leigh Griffiths is a fantastic footballer and has a fantastic footballing brain.”
Griffiths would make Livingston his fourth team in 2022 should he sign for the Lions before the close of the new year. He featured twice for Dundee in January before heading to Falkirk, alongside his stint across the globe at Mandurah City.
