David Martindale: Chairman Livingstone will appear in BBC prison debate

Livingstone director David Martindale is delighted to bring his ‘real life experience’ to the debate on prison reform when he appears on BBC Scotland Discussion night On Wednesday (21:00 GMT).

The 51-year-old Livingstone manager was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in 2006 after admitting drug and money laundering charges.

Martindale will be joined on the ‘Question Time’ style panel in Bathgate by two MPs, an MP and a journalist.

After graduating from university and moving into football coaching following his release, the former Motherwell and Rangers youth player joined the Levy coaching staff in 2014 and became manager in 2020.

He is the longest serving manager among the current Scottish Premiership bosses.

“It’s obviously outside of my comfort zone,” Martindale said of appearing on the show. “I could sit down and talk about football with anyone every day of the week and I think it would be a completely informed discussion.

“Sitting with politicians, that’s probably not my strongest skill, but what I see value for me is prison reform.

“I’ve had real life experience spending time in prison, getting out of prison, and being rehabilitated. I feel like I have an informed opinion about the prison system by being in it and living in it.”

Martindale held talks aimed at steering others away from repeat offending.

“I still get requests on social media,” he added. “I still get letters to the club. I still do little things for prison reform, things like that.

“So, that’s the part that I’ll always make myself available for. I’m very happy to talk about it because if it helps anyone, it should help. I’m more than happy to talk about my past, talk about my experiences.”