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DAVIE MARTINDALE knows three into one won’t go.

But he’s more convinced than ever that 12 into 16 adds up to success for Scottish football.

Callan Media - Commissioned by The Sun Glasgow

David Martindale insists he knows the best way forward for the league[/caption]

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The Livingston boss says a larger league at the top of the pyramid is the way to go[/caption]

Kenny Ramsay

Falkirk and Livingston are in a title tussle with Ayr United for promotion to the Premiership[/caption]

Livingston boss Martindale says he’ll never give up on his battle to see the top flight opened up to more teams.

Especially after experiencing this season’s thrilling race for promotion in the Championship.

The Lions, second after leapfrogging Ayr with a last-gasp win over them, will go top if they beat Morton tonight and Partick Thistle on Friday.

Martindale said: “Our games against Falkirk and Ayr United this season are testament to why the Premiership needs to be extended.

“It needs to go to a minimum 16-team league because there are good players and teams at this level.

“Scottish football as a whole would benefit if it got extended.

“I’m not being big-headed here, but there aren’t many as well-versed as myself on this one.

“I’ve just had six years in the Premiership and I’m now seven or eight months into a season in the Championship. So I’m pretty well qualified to give my opinion on this.

“It’s all about watching games of football at both levels — and for me, the current set-up means there’s no room to breathe in the Premiership.”

Martindale has long since predicted the three-way battle at the top of the Championship could go down to the last kick of the last game.

It’s a shootout which has seen crowds flocking back, with more than 7,000 watching the Bairns fight out a a 2-2 thriller with Ayr ten days ago. Critics of going from 12 to 16 — a plan that would see Falkirk, Livi, Ayr and Partick Thistle promoted if it was brought in today — say it would lead to too many meaningless games.

But Martindale, whose side have a Scottish Cup quarter- final, and the SPFL Trust Trophy final, looming in a massive month ahead, added: “That wouldn’t be the case.

“The first year we went up, Livingston had fans who were loving games against Celtic and Rangers — but two seasons in, they weren’t going.

“If we were playing Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Hearts, Aberdeen home and away from home just the once, they would go in the calendar early doors.

“But when you’re playing each other four or five times a season, the enthusiasm goes.

“Extending the Premiership wouldn’t just lead to a better product on the park, it would be better for the paying fan.”

Meanwhile, Ton gaffer Dougie Imrie has urged his injury-hit team to kick start another impressive run tonight.

Their 11-game unbeaten Championship streak was brought to a halt by leaders Falkirk last Friday in a 2-0 defeat at Cappielow.

Morton have key players Iain Wilson and new signing Tomi Adeloye sidelined through injury.

And loan star Filip Stuparevic is ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

However, Imrie insists they still possess the quality to trouble title-chasing Livi.

He said: “Tomi and Iain will still miss out, as will Filip, but it is what it is, and we just need to get on with it.

Kenny Ramsay

Morton’s unbeaten streak ended against Falkirk last week[/caption]

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Scott Arfield was among the goals[/caption]

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After defeat to the leaders, the Greenock side must dust themselves down for a crack at second-placed Livi[/caption]

“We were disappointed with the two goals we lost to Falkirk.

“But we can’t dwell on it and we’ve got to go to Livingston, who will be boosted by a really good win at Ayr.

“We want to go there and hopefully start another really good run for ourselves.

“All we can do is start another run. We’ve done well against Livingston this season in the league, and we want to continue that.

“We know it will be a really difficult game as Livi are strong at home and we’re carrying injuries now.

“But we’ve got a good enough squad that we can go there and pick up points.

“It’s good we’ve got a game so quickly, but it’s going to be our fourth in ten days and that’s a strain on the players.

“It’s one defeat in 12 and we have to look at the positives.

“We just need to regroup and go again as we come into the business end of the season.”

Ex-Ton ace Robbie Muirhead was Livi’s hero at Ayr when he smashed home a sensational last-gasp free-kick.

Imrie added: “Robbie has that quality in abundance. He was a terrific player for myself and he’s been a massive miss for us. His goal at Ayr, that’s what the kid can do.

“He was excellent for us and he’s now doing well for Livingston.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

DANCING On Ice finds itself in a sexism row as viewers accuse the judges of ‘underscoring’ female stars.

Fans of the ITV skating competition were left stunned after a show-favourite was axed last night.

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Viewers don’t understand how Michela only scored 36.5 last week[/caption]

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Viewers can not remember there ever being a female winner on the show[/caption]

They watched as The Traitors star Mollie Pearce was sent home by  Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Oti Mabuse and Ashley Banjo.

Dan Edgar was picked over Mollie after they both found themselves in the skate-off.

After Mollie’s elimination, fans have now branded Dancing On Ice sexist – raging that female contestants are consistently being scored lower.

“I don’t understand how Michela only scored 36.5 when Sam nearly falls and gets 37.0, her skating is in a different league” asked one viewer.

“Same reason this show hasn’t had a female winner in FOREVER” explained another viewer.

“Yup they really need to hide sexism better” added another.

“I feel like they are really favouring the men this year” said one disgruntled fan.

Another agreed and stated: “Mollie was so much cleaner in skate off.”

“The judges are weird this is one of the years we have the best chance of a woman winning and the judges underscore her and put her in dangerous positions.

“The only silver lining about tonight is that the judges overscoring the hell out of Anton and putting him at the top exposed that Dan is not getting the votes either.

“Next week I do get the vibe the judges with change their tune with Michaela now that she’s the last woman left next will be interesting,

“I do wonder if they will put Sam at the bottom for the judges to get Dan & Anton both their favorites in the finals” explained another.

“I’ve lost interest the last few years since the only suspense is which male will win” added another fan.

After Mollie’s elimination fans just couldn’t believe how Dan was still in the competition- raging that she was a better dancer compared to him.

Taking to social media, one fan said: “Fix! Molly did so much better in the dance off !! They just love Dan why!”

A second fumed: “Love how ITV keeps advertising TOWIE with Dan trying to fix the vote.”

“I’m sitting here spitting feathers! And I’m allergic to feathers, but I’m that angry at this fix that I’m still spitting them,” said a third.

While fourth fan also commented on Anton Ferdinand’s score: “Here’s the thing. That was NOT worth 40. Apart from anything else you actually could NOT see Anton’s feet due to the smoke. Every year, the judges FIX the votes. Panel change please.”

A fifth vented: “Mollie got absolutely s over tonight by the gross overmarking of Dan and Anton.”

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Fans hopes are pinned on Michaela Strachan and Mark Hanretty to win the show[/caption]

Dancing On Ice continues on ITV1 and ITVX.

KFC-FUELLED John Higgins blew away bogeyman Mark Davis on the opening day of the World Open. 

The four-time world champion, 49, treated himself to a pre-match chicken takeaway after struggling with jet-lag overnight.

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John Higgins got the better of Mark Davis in China[/caption]

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But the four-time world champion had suffered jet-lag ahead of the tournament[/caption]

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He stopped off at a fast food restaurant while he struggled to sleep[/caption]

And after some fast food, he was equally quick to fire in two century breaks on the way to hammering Davis 5-1 and booking his place in the last 32.

World No.13 Higgins, who was tagged on social media by a fan, said: “I was up early because I didn’t sleep. I saw a KFC and grabbed some chicken. I’ve not had that in ages.

“There was a fella who was coming to the snooker and I got my picture taken with him.

“That’s a one off. I love the Chines delicacies. I’m going for a hotpot now. I love that.

“I feel as if I’m cheating coming over here and having a KFC. I’d been up all night and I went for some popcorn chicken.

“Mark’s a player who’s had the better of me during my career. He had his chances there as well. So I’m delighted to be through.”

Earlier in the day, Perth potter Scott Donaldson whitewashed local amateur Wang Yuhang 5-0 in a heldover qualifier.

Scottish potters Graeme Dott and Anthony McGill got underway today against Stan Moody and Pang Junxu respectively – but BOTRH crashed out.

Moody won 5-2 with a top break of 123 while McGill himself was whitewashed 5-0 by home national Pang.

Off the baize, Matt Selt has been slapped with a £21,000 fine for his outburst at the Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this season.

The world No.33, who is the vice chairman of the players’ board, stormed out of his best-of-11 match with Pang when he missed a pot at 4-3 behind.

Selt, who has also been handed a three-month suspended ban, accepted charges of being “aggressive in his behaviour” and using “abusive language” whilst also sending an “abusive text message” to a member of the WPBSA, the sport’s governing body.

The Essex potter apologised to the individuals concerned and cited extenuating circumstances of being “under significant stress and pressure” at the time of the offence.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

In the NFL, you really only know the long snapper’s name if they didn’t do their job (quick, name five long snappers… OK, obviously that’s impossible… Just name three… No?). Most NFL fans can name at least one long snapper. First of all because his name is Taybor Pepper, which is fun. And secondly because […]

The post Browns release veteran who played 152 games for franchise appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Raise your hand if you didn’t think the 4 Nations Face-Off was going to be that electric. We all knew it was going to be great hockey, and it’s no secret that, right now, there isn’t a lot of love lost between at least a couple of the countries that participated. But what an incredible product […]

The post NHL Power Rankings, Week 20: Capitals dominating after wild 4 Nations Face-Off appeared first on ClutchPoints.

MARRIED At First Sight star Nathan claimed his ex Lacey told him they should have a “showmance” after the experiment.

On tonight’s reunion show, the cast returned for an explosive dinner party, but it was Nathan’s revelation that shocked viewers.

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Nathan dropped a huge revelation about why he ended him romance with Lacey[/caption]

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The boys were quick to slam Lacey for wanting to ‘fake’ her relationship after the show[/caption]

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Nathan claimed Lacey told him continue to relationship for ‘magazine deals’[/caption]

The Sun revealed in November that Nathan and Lacey had secretly split after filming for the E4 series ended.

He admitted to the boys that Lacey told him they should continue their romance for fame and “magazine deals”.

Speaking to the camera, an emotional Nathan said: “I was so gutted when it ended, I thought our marriage was going to last forever.”

While Lacey said: “People are going to be shocked that it was Nathan that blocked me, I just feel that he gave up.”

A tearful Lacey said: “Him just blocking me like I’m nothing hurt me, I just tried so hard.”

Catching up with former co-star Kieran, Nathan said: “After the experiment she was completely different.

“I was going to see her every weekend, she never came to see me once in the whole relationship, never.”

He explained that the relationship “felt one-sided” and she found excuses to not visit him on weekends.

Nathan said: “She said ‘I think it’s best we be friends’, she ripped my heart out.”

After arriving at the dinner party and reuniting with some of the boys, Nathan explained why he and Lacey decided to call it quits.

He said: “She just decided it was better to be mates, it was a bit one-sided. It goes into something that’s not genuine.”

Nathan then revealed that his ex had allegedly sent him a text saying she wanted to “fake” the relationship for “opportunity and money”.

He said: “Shortly after she messaged me and said after a year you get magazine deals and things like that, showmance.”

A shocked Kieran fumed: “Fake as f***,” while Orson added: “Awful.”

Nathan went on to say: “She sent me a text message saying the relationship she wanted would be a pretend one so she could get more opportunity from it and make more money but I didn’t want to do it.

“It’s a bit embarrassing, I don’t really want to talk about it to be honest.”

Spilling the tea

MAFS star Nathan recently told The Sun why he and Lacey split.

Shortly after their break-up was revealed, Lacey spoke to The Sun and told us that she feared Nathan was “faking” the romance the whole time, just for the cameras.

However, now Nathan has broken his silence on the break-up and revealed that he is in fact the one who has been left “brokenhearted”.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, he said: “Things weren’t the same off the show, it was very different.

“I’d always have to go there, she wouldn’t come to see me – those kind of arguments. I’m not too sure, things were quite different after the show.

“When you’re together, you’re 100 per cent in the same place.

“But after the experiment there was a big distance there.”

Asked who’s idea it was to break-up, Nathan said: “She decided, she said let’s just be friends.”

Speaking about how he was feeling post break-up, Nathan said: “I’m scared to date again, I want to but my hearts still broken.

“I definitely do want to date again but there’s no one yet.”

Lacey also spoke to The Sun last night and she told us: “I left him [Nathan] in 2024, to me this is a new slate. I am single.

“He’s not worth it. I’m just doing my thing, I believe in the universe, if I’m meant to meet someone then I will.”

The duo have delighted E4 fans with their blossoming romance – seeing the pair finally declare I Love You during last week’s final dates episode.

The Los Angeles Lakers were involved in the biggest trade of the season as they acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Doncic is one of the best players in the league, and he is now paired up with superstar LeBron James. However, the chemistry hasn’t fully developed since […]

The post NBA rumors: Rival execs hit Lakers with need for patience after Luka Doncic trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Denver Nuggets have been one of the NBA’s best teams this season, boasting a 37-20 record that places them No. 3 in the Western Conference. Despite their success, questions surrounding what the Nuggets’ starting five should look like have started to circulate. “As the Nuggets have roared back into the West’s top three after […]

The post Nuggets urged to keep starting Russell Westbrook by rival exec appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Size plays a huge role in NBA basketball. However, a lot of basketball fans will also agree that size isn’t everything. In fact, throughout NBA history, we’ve witnessed a number of undersized players make a splash in the league. Yuki Kawamura is the smallest NBA player today. But despite the odds, he was able to […]

The post Yuki Kawamura and the 9 smallest guards that took the NBA by storm appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Stephen A Smith hasn’t been a stranger to criticizing the Philadelphia 76ers. This time, his criticism is pointed at 76ers general manager Daryl Morey. After the 76ers signed Paul George in free agency, the season has been a bust, compared to expectations. Many thought that they would be at the top of the Eastern Conference. […]

The post Stephan A. Smith points blame at Daryl Morey over 76ers failures appeared first on ClutchPoints.