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The role of sporting director feels fairly recent and fluid in Scottish football. Does a sporting director oversee recruitment? Analysis? Club operations? The academy? <\/p>\n
It’s hard to tell, as the role at every club can differ.<\/p>\n
In the Scottish Premiership, only four teams currently have one – Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and now Livingston.<\/p>\n
Will Martindale be as front facing as, for example, Lutz Pfannenstiel, who has been leading Aberdeen’s manager search and even sitting on the bench?<\/p>\n
In Germany, the sporting director speaks to the media on a semi-regular basis and it’s hard to say if media-savvy Martindale, always good for a soundbite, will continue his cosy relationship with the press.<\/p>\n
Would that impede new manager Marvin Bartley’s influence? And how involved will the former manager be with team selection and recruitment?<\/p>\n
“I will be here to offer any support I can going forward, but I am also conscious that there has to be a clear divide between my new role and the first-team footballing department,” Martindale said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n