David Martindale has heaped praise on Livingston midfielder Scott Pittman as he closes in on appearance records for the club.
The 29-year-old will break Oscar Rubio's tally of a record 123 Premiership appearances for the Lions if he plays against Hibs on Saturday - and would close to within 11 games of breaking Keaghan Jacobs' overall appearances record for the club in the process.
Martindale was responsible for bringing the energetic midfielder to the club in 2015 and believes the former Broxburn Athletic man will go on to set unbreakable records for the club.
Speaking to the Courier, Martindale said: "Scott Pittman will set records that will never be broken at Livingston Football Club. What he’s done and what he will continue to do for this club will never happen again.
“It’s an incredible achievement and it really couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. The level of consistency in his performances has been remarkable and he’s deserved everything he’s achieved in his career.”
He added: “We played together in midfield at Broxburn Athletic and I was assistant manager as well with his dad being the manager and Gary Maley as the goalie.
“He’d do my running and I’d do his talking. It was great to play alongside him and we’d been trying for ages to get him into the senior ranks when he was at Broxburn.
"Bo'ness United get mentioned a lot when it comes to Pitts because that's where he signed from but it was Broxburn who made him. He was at Bo'ness a few months and I never saw him play for them. He got his move off the back of his performances at Broxburn Athletic.
“He’d had a few unsuccessful trials – including two at Livi – but when I had the opportunity to join Livi and then further down the line took the lead with the recruitment, he was someone I wanted at the club.
“Mark Burchill was the boss at the time and I remember saying to him that we’ll give him six months and if it didn’t work out we’d move him on in the summer. I think it’s fair to say it’s worked out.
“His first goal for the club was the Petrofac Cup final and I remember looking into the stands and seeing his dad nearly in tears. It was a really emotional moment.
“What he’s since gone on to achieve for this football club is hard to put into words.”
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