Livingston boss David Martindale: Writing was on wall for relegation in January but I want chance to take team back to the Premiership

David Martindale insists Livingston's relegation was effectively sealed in January but hopes to be given the chance to guide them back to the top flight next season.

After a six-year stint in the Premiership, The Lions were officially relegated after today's 4-1 defeat to Motherwell, where a Theo Bair brace, Sam Nicholson wonderstrike and a Dan Casey effort did the damage before Joel Nouble's consolation.

Championship football now awaits the West Lothian outfit, having won just four times in 34 outings, and they go into the final three games of the campaign with only pride to play for.

The defeat coupled with Ross County's win over Hibs means they are 10 points adrift of second bottom St Johnstone at the foot of the table with only nine to play for.

Martindale accepts responsibility for taking the team down and says their fate was sealed at the turn of the year when they failed to attract the calibre of signing that could help steer them away from danger.

But he hopes the club will be 'pragmatic' in their approach for the future and he insists he wants to atone for this campaign by bringing the club straight back up.

The deflated gaffer said: It's a sad day. I'm realistic to know that this was probably a situation that could arise. When you look at the form we've been on this year, the points total, the gap - it was always going to be difficult. If you look at today's result, even if we'd won today it probably still would have meant relegation. It has been on the horizon.

"Although we got relegated mathematically today, I think, deep down and being honest, the writing has been on the wall since the turn of the year.

"The January window was extremely difficult trying to bring in players to help us, because of the