DAVID MARTINDALE has praised Raith Rovers for listening to their supporters and the force of public opinion after admitting they made a ‘mistake’ on the controversial capture of David Goodwillie.

Martindale is no stranger to the spotlight after carving out a career in football against the backdrop of a criminal past.

The Livingston manager spent time in prison for drugs offences before beginning a coaching career on his release, and was forced to seek Scottish FA backing as a ‘fit and proper person’ after taking over in the dugout at Almondvale in 2020.

As a club, Livingston also stood by Declan Gallagher when they re-signed the now Scotland defender in 2017after his release from jail following a conviction for assault.

Given his own back story, Martindale has every reason to believe in rehabilitation, but is also careful not to compare his case with that of Goodwillie, who was ruled by a Court of Session judge in 2017 to be a rapist.

Livingston have twice distanced themselves from stories linking them with an interest in Goodwillie, most recently in 2018, but Martindale insists he can see the controversy from both sides.

He said: “I’m a massive believer in rehabilitation. [But] there are boundaries to rehabilitation, admitting guilt and stuff like that, and there are different barriers there, so it’s a little bit different to my case.

“I pled guilty in court and went to prison and and accepted my crime. It’s probably not my place to comment too deeply on that.

“But I genuinely can see it from both points of view as well.

“Raith Rovers have made their decision. Listen, all you can do when you make a mistake, or if a mistake has been made, is listen to your fans and try to rectify that.

“And I think that’s what’s happened.

“Raith Rovers have listened to their fans. They’ve made their case.

“I think from Raith’s point of view they’ve made their decision and they need to get on with it now.

“But I can genuinely understand both sides.”