LIVINGSTON boss David Martindale has hit back at those upset by him referring to rival players by their nickname.

He called Rangers stars James Tavernier and Scott Arfield by 'Tav' and 'Scotty' after last week's 2-1 victory for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men.

This led to a lot of criticism from supporters in Scottish football.

But Martindale was having none of it.

He told the press: "We play each other that much and everybody knows each other that well that there’s always some kind of relationship.

“Scotty Arfield is from Livingston and we have mutual friends. He has a really good relationship with wee Cheb, our kitman. The two of them were at Falkirk together.

“Ever since we’ve been in the Premiership, Mr Arfield has come and visited us after games. He comes in the changing room to see Cheb.

“So is it Mr Tavernier or Mr Arfield? Is it Mr Jota? When Scott Brown was at Celtic I’d call him Broony. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong there, to be fair.”