Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SportLeague One & TwoNew Livingston midfielder Mark Millar aiming for immediate Championship return following Queen...

New Livingston midfielder Mark Millar aiming for immediate Championship return following Queen of the South switch

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New Livingston midfielder Mark Millar admits he is targeting an immediate return to the Championship with the Lions after making a surprise move from Queen of the South.

The 28-year-old has signed a deal until the end of the season after being told by recently appointed Doonhamers manager Gary Naysmith that he was not guaranteed game time at Palmerston, despite making 23 starts during the first half of the campaign.

However, the former Celtic trainee has joined a team that are on course to rejoin Queens in the second tier, with David Hopkin’s team seven points clear at the top of League One.

Millar could make his debut in today’s clash at former club Peterhead and he is desperate to help the West Lothian outfit achieve their target of clinching the title.

He said: “I’ve moved to a club that are seven points clear and are looking to get promotion.

“They’re trying to win the league and it’s a good to be involved in that. They’re ambitious and they’re trying to sign players to make the squad stronger.

“It was about getting game time for me. I wasn’t guaranteed it at Queens so it was probably the best situation for me and my family to move on.

“Gary said he would be happy to keep me but four weeks down the line he didn’t know what the team was going to be and how things were going to pan out.

“He could not guarantee that I was going to play every week. At the age I’m at just now I need to be playing games.

“My deal would have been up at the end of the season so it was an opportunity for me to come here and play games rather than sitting on the bench.

“It was good he was honest with me and this is the right move for me and my family.

“It only really happened in the last two days and I was in training for the first time on Friday.

“I’m in the squad for the game against Peterhead and I’m looking forward to getting going.”

Despite being at the club for just a day, the former Dundee United and Falkirk playmaker has been impressed by what he has seen.

He said: “Everything is at the stadium at Livingston, you’ve got your kit-man, the training pitch is there and you get your lunch.

“It’s run properly and looking in from the outside, you’re thinking they should be in the Championship – but we need to prove that and win more games.

“The gaffer has played for Scotland many times so if he can pass on anything that can help me, then brilliant. I’m 28 and I’m an experienced player now but I need to keep working hard.”

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