Bartley Confirms Full Squad Available for Dundee United Clash as Contract Talks Stall
Livingston head coach Marvin Bartley has confirmed his full squad is available ahead of Saturday’s crucial Scottish Premiership trip to Dundee United — a rare bit of good news for the bottom-placed side.
Bartley spoke candidly about the club’s dire position, acknowledging they’ve only won once all season (back in August) and sit 11 points adrift of safety with just six games remaining. Despite the bleak outlook, he praised his players’ attitude, especially after their spirited 2-2 draw with Hearts last weekend, where they rallied from behind despite having led earlier.
Contract Uncertainty Looms Large
With his own deal expiring at season’s end, Bartley admitted no formal talks have taken place yet — neither for himself nor several out-of-contract players. Still, he insists everyone remains fully committed. "Football always finds a way of working itself out," he said, sounding calm but pragmatic about the future.
He also pushed back against any suggestion of morale collapse: "It would have been easy for us to chuck it" after falling behind to Hearts, but instead the team kept fighting. Bartley made it clear that anything less than 100% effort means exclusion from the matchday squad — a stance he’s enforcing even in a seemingly lost campaign.
Fixture Frustration and Squad Boost
Bartley didn’t hide his annoyance at the post-split fixture schedule, noting Livingston were “probably due four home games and one away” but instead face three road matches in their final five. That includes Saturday’s tough visit to Tannadice.
On the bright side, two key players return:
- Brooklyn Kabangolo is back from suspension
- Macaulay Tait is fit and available again
Both will be in the squad, giving Bartley more options as he looks to salvage pride — and possibly spark an unlikely survival push.
Why This Matters Even in a Lost Season
While relegation looks almost certain, Bartley’s insistence on professionalism matters for several reasons:
- Reputation: Players out of contract need strong final performances to secure new deals.
- Club culture: Setting standards now shapes how the club rebuilds next season.
- Fan trust: Supporters deserve effort regardless of the table.
- Opponent risk: Teams like Dundee United can’t assume an easy win — Livi showed grit against Hearts.
Even without realistic survival hopes, every point could influence the final standings, affect opponents’ European or relegation battles, and shape summer recruitment decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Livingston have all players available for their match vs. Dundee United, including Kabangolo (suspension served) and Tait (fit again).
- Marvin Bartley’s contract expires this summer; no talks held yet, but he remains focused on the job.
- The team has won just once in 2025/26 but showed resilience in recent draws.
- Bartley demands full effort — slackers won’t make the squad, regardless of the standings.
- Post-split fixture list gives Livi three away games in their last five, worsening their survival odds.
Bartley isn’t pretending the situation isn’t grim, but he’s refusing to let standards slip. In a season defined by disappointment, that discipline might be the most valuable thing Livingston take into the summer.
— Editorial Team
