Livingston boss David Martindale says he hopes Ivan Konovalov doesn’t receive any negative backlash from Scottish football fans with the keeper set to become the first Russian to play in the UK since the invasion of Ukraine.
The 27-year-old is expected to make his Lions debut in place of the suspended Max Stryjek this afternoon when they host Hibernian.
The former Rubin Kazan stopper signed for Livi in January but a lengthy work permit process meant he didn’t arrive in Scotland until just a few days before the military action in Ukraine started.
But Martindale is confident fans will separate the individual and the actions of Vladimir Putin’s government in Russia and confessed he’d have no problem dipping into the Russian - or Ukrainian - market.
He said: “We all talk about diversity and inclusion and this has got to come into it. It’s not as if it’s the Russian people who have chosen this war.
“I can’t speak for Ivan but a lot of Russian people, from what I gather, don’t agree with what’s going on. He’s a really good guy who has spent a lot of time away from his family.
“There’s not been a lot of flights to Russia so when we’ve had that downtime he’s not been able to get back to see his wife and daughter. The flights are astronomical and he can’t afford to go back home but that’s him now applied for a visa for them to come over here and he’s moved into his own apartment now.”
He added: “I’ve tried to dip into the Ukrainian market because players are available.
“First and foremost, they need to be able to play for Livingston, ability-wise. But is it something you’d like to help out with? Of course.
“We’ve explored the Russian market as well and that’s one I want to be active in, but I don’t know how that process would work from a political or Home Office point of view.”
Konovalov, who Martindale hinted could be the starting keeper next season with interest from several clubs in Stryjek, says it took him just five minutes to decide to sign for the Lions.
He commented: “My agent called me and told me he had spoken with the coach of Livingston.
“I thought for five minutes and decided to go.
“I had a look on the internet and saw that Livingston was between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and close to the airport and I thought, ‘I’ll go, no problem’.
“I knew Scottish football. On Russian TV, before the situation in the world, we had two Scottish Premiership matches per week.
“I had heard of Livingston but I knew it was not a big name.”
As for the situation back in his homeland, the keeper admits not being able to travel to see his family has made life difficult - but his rival for the starting role has been a big help in him settling into life in Scotland.
He commented: “It is difficult. My wife needs to work in Moscow to be with my daughter and I need to work here for football. I need to do what I need to do, and my wife understands that also.
“It was very difficult when things happened in Ukraine because there are no direct flights and it takes 20 hours going one way. I have parents in Moscow and my wife has parents in Moscow, so they can help my wife.
He added: “On my first day, I went into the changing room and Max came to me and spoke with me in Russian.
“I asked him where he had learned Russian and he told me he knew some. He has helped me a lot. I know English but here many people speak too fast and I can’t understand.
“I speak with Max in English and he speaks with me in Russian and we practice.”
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