David Martindale defends Sky snub of bottom six as Livingston boss admits broadcasting games is 'bad business'

The broadcaster will not show any of the games from the relegation scrap.

Livingston boss David Martindale admits he can understand Sky 's decision to not pick up any bottom six games following the league split.

The SPFL unveiled the fixture list for the final five weekends of league action last month and the broadcaster opted to pick up five matches live next month - which all came from the Scottish Premiership top six. That leaves subscribers missing vital relegation fixtures with the fight between St Johnstone, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and Ross County set to go all the way.

However, the Livingston boss confessed he could understand the call after speaking to a representative of the broadcaster. Speaking ahead of facing Malky Mackay's County, Martindale said: "I can only speak about last year when I spoke to someone - I won't be naming any names - and (with) whatever the production cost to put on a game of football (is) - I get it.

"I read social media as well and the fans are saying 'this is a disgrace Sky' and whatever - but from a business perspective I kind of get it. You are looking at shareholders, potentially based in London.

"They are saying 'are we going to lose £150k by showing Livingston vs Dundee United, Livingston vs Motherwell?'. Potentially that is what it comes down to.

"It would be a bad business decision from these shareholders if they were to chose to do that. It's ultimately where we are in terms of the Sky deal.

"I have personally not got a problem with that. I do understand the business and the economics behind it, albeit I can see it from the fans point of view as well. I think if money trumps everything in modern football, and it's obvious what the decision is going to be there."

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