Martindale: James Penrice will have a "few options" this summer

The Tynecastle Park club are understood to be one of a number of Premiership clubs interested in the 25-year-old defender who is out of contract in the summer, as well teams from England.

Martindale would be keen on the player signing with a club this window and being loaned back to Livi.

“I think James is going to have a few options in the summer, I think he’s been one of our stand-out players this season, in a poor season," he said. “I think he could go and play at a much higher level and he’ll have options in the summer.

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“That’s kind of where we are. He’s not leaving Livingston in this window. The best solution for all parties would maybe be a pre-contract elsewhere and a transfer and loan back to Livingston to secure his services for that club, but that looks as though it might not happen.

“I’m quite happy to put my trust in James. I know he’s going to give it everything he’s got to try and help keep us in the league. So I don’t think it’ll have an adverse effect.”

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Penrice, who signed for Livi from Partick Thistle in 2021, is currently playing with an injury according to Martindale, who does not doubt the player's commitment to Livingston.

“To be honest, James has been playing through injury to try and keep Livingston in the Premiership," he said. "I think it would have been very easy for him to say ‘Gaffer...’ (and sit games out) because he genuinely is injured, carrying a knock and has been playing through it.

“It’s a knock that he could have dipped himself out of the squad and I think that shows you the character and personality of James. It means a lot to him. So I’ve got no qualms about this (situation). It was the same with Nicky Devlin last year. Different people deal with it differently.”