Livingston

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James Penrice "can reach new levels" after a signing a three-year contract with Hearts, according to head coach Steven Naismith.

The 25-year-old left Livingston at the end of last season after the West Lothian club were relegated from the Scottish Premiership, and the left-back now becomes Hearts' first signing of the summer.

It was reported in March that Penrice had agreed a pre-contract deal with the Tynecastle club, along with Motherwell midfielder Blair Spittal and Ross County playmaker Yan Dhanda.

Penrice had been at Livingston since 2021, having had a previous loan spell, and contributed five assists in 31 appearances last season.

"We’re delighted to get James signed up," Naismith said.

"He’s someone who knows the domestic game well and has had to work really hard to get to where he is today.

"James has bags of talent, he’s got a great engine and he’s going to provide us with options.

"He’ll be an asset for us and he’s at a great age where there’s even more to come. We can develop him further and help him to reach new levels."

Livingston and Ayr United are interested in 30-year-old Dundee centre-half Lee Ashcroft, who finished last season with the two club's Scottish Championship rivals, Raith Rovers. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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French goalkeeper Jerome Prior has become Livingston's sixth signing as David Martindale's side prepare for life in the Championship.

The 28-year-old most recently played in his homeland for Ligue 2 side Pau FC, having started his career at Bordeaux, who he made 29 appearances for.

Prior has worn a Livingston strip already after turning out in a mid-season friendly in Turkey during the winter break.

The club say conversations continued between the goalkeeper and Martindale, with a one-year deal now in place, with the contract automatically extended by another year if Livingston are promoted straight back to the Premiership.

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Our time in the Premiership is over. We had an amazing six seasons being the brave, battling underdog that no one liked.

We had plenty of stick along the way - 'plastic pitch', 'plastic team' and the perennial 'you have no fans'. Other clubs thought we were more like the ugly sister who got to go to the ball rather than Cinderella.

Yet despite all this we've had some brilliant victories against all the big teams, some memorable ones against the Old Firm, top-six finishes and a cup final. Not bad.

The terrible season we've just had is the one I thought we would have when we first came up, so everything that’s happened until now is a bonus.

The Hibs game had end-of-season borefest written all over it before a ball was kicked and it lived up the non-billing. I think both teams were pleased when the curtain was closed on this dull game and the season.

We could've won the match with a couple of good finishes from Bruce Anderson - we’ll miss his prowess in front of goal next season, along with the battling qualities of Jason Holt and James Penrice.

I’m not fussed whether we bounce back straight away. I just want to see competitive games where we try to win, instead of playing to not get beat. I want to see goals, players trying their utmost, and above all I am looking forward to us winning a few games.

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Livingston have confirmed the departure of 11 players following their final game in the Scottish Premiership.

Mikey Devlin and Jason Holt have both left the club following the triggering of automatic relegation release clauses .

The West Lothian side also confirmed Bruce Anderson, Morgan Boyes, Kurtis Guthrie, Jack Hamilton, Joel Nouble, Ayo Obileye, James Penrice and Andrew Shinnie will not sign contract extensions.

However, Sean Kelly and Cristian Montano are both in discussions about prolonging their stay despite their deals being up, while Dan MacKay returns to parent club Hibs.

Steven Bradley has requested to be placed on the transfer list, with Mo Sangare, Miles Welch-Hayes and David Carson also made available for sale.

David Martindale has already secured the signings of Robbie Muirhead, Matthew Clarke, Daniel Finlayson, Liam Sole and Ricky Korboa for next season.

Livingston players remaining under contract: Jamie Brandon, Shaun Donnellan, Shamal George, Stephen Kelly, Samson Lawal, Michael Nottingham, Scott Pittman, Aphelele Teto, Tete Yengi.

We asked for your thoughts after Livingston's time in the top flight came to an end with a 1-1 draw at home to Hibs.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Jennifer: It's been a hard, frustrating season, especially for the fans watching. The Championship is going to be a tough ask for us to bounce straight back

Anon: Four wins all season. Same old story, same old mistakes and yet at least we finished on a draw. Please leave now, David Martindale. It’s the right thing to do.

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• Myziane Maolida has scored 10 league goals this season (one in this game), more than any other Hibs player.

• Livingston have scored in their last six games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of eight games from 29 January 2022 to 6 March 2022.

• Hibs have lost 21 points from winning positions in the top flight this season, only Dundee (25) have lost more.

• Joel Nouble has assisted two goals this season one in this game), no Livingston player has more in the Scottish Premiership.

• Hibs attempted the last five shots in this game as Livingston's last shot was taken by Bruce Anderson in the 67th minute.

• Bruce Anderson has scored seven league goals this season (one in this game), more than any other Livingston player.

Watch highlights as Hibernian and Livingston play out a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw.

Available to UK users only.

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Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "It was an even game. Chances for chances, it was about even and I don't think there was much more in the game. A draw is a fair reflection.

"Brucie's looking at other clubs, but I've said all year 'get the ball in the box and Brucie is the man you want'. There can't be many number nines in Scottish football with Brucie's pedigree that are available for free. If anybody phones me, I'll give them a glowing recommendation for wee Brucie. Wee Brucie has been a friend, I've got a great relationship with him and I'll always keep in touch with him.

"I came to the unluckiest club in Scotland. We finish fifth, miss Europe. Finish sixth, miss Europe. Two top six finishes, missed out on the top six by the last kick of the ball and on matchday 38.

"The last two years, the gap between Livingston and the rest of the league has been growing and it's been harder year on year to be competitive.

"I'd walk away with my head held high. From when I came to into the football club to where we were to where we are now - two promotions, two relegations, a Cup final and Premiership football for six years, you'll break the record transfer fee and three or four players who've come through to play for Scotland - you'd take that."

"It's common knowledge that I'm in with the people at the football, in with the bricks and mortar, and if that changes I'm happy to shake everybody's hand and move on. I'm lucky I've got a degree, a background I can fall back on. I never thought I'd be manager of Livingston, I go away and complete my UEFA Pro Licence. I'd like to still be here but it's out of my hands."

Livingston signed off their doomed Scottish Premiership campaign with a comeback draw against Hibernian at the soon-to-be-renamed Tony Macaroni Arena.

After a sleep-inducing first-half in the West Lothian sun, Myziane Maolida put Hibs ahead four minutes after the break as he buried a loose ball on the edge of the area.

But there was to be a nice end to Bruce Anderson's Livingston story, with the departing striker tucking home a Joel Nouble cross to level.

Already destined for the Championship, Livingston finished 10 points behind 11th-placed Ross County, while managerless Hibs finished eighth.

The season is finally over Livingston fans. What did you make of that final game?

Who do you want to keep over the summer? Who do you want to bin? And when do you think the Lions will roar back to the Premiership?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

These teams will both look very different next season.

More than half of Livingston's squad is out of contract, with Anderson and Nouble already confirmed to depart. They will not be the last to see the glow of the exit sign.

Although some will be happy to bid farewell to Livingston, they have given us plenty of memorable moments in their time in the top flight. Two home wins over Celtic, one over Rangers, a thumping of Hearts, a run to the Scottish Cup final.

When will see them in these climbs again? It is hard to tell. Things must be resolved off the pitch before they are able to continue on it.

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Bruce Anderson. Bye, bye 'Wee Brucie'. The Livingston striker signed off his stint in West Lothian with a goal and it was nothing less than he deserved.

Livingston: George, Nottingham, Devlin, Se Kelly, Montano, Pittman, St Kelly, Nouble, Shinnie, Anderson, Yengi.

Substitutes: Wright, Carson, Bradley, Sangare, Sharp.

Hibernian: Wollacott, Cadden, Bushiri, Hanlon, Obita, Triantis, Newell, Boyle, Campbell, Maolida, Vente.

Substitutes: Johnson, Levitt, Doyle-Hayes, Mayenda, Amos, Stevenson, Le Fondre, Tavares, Moriah-Welsh.

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Livingston manager David Martindale expects to be selecting from the same squad he had at his disposal for the midweek defeat at Aberdeen, with goalkeeper Jack Hamilton (groin), James Penrice (hip) and Shaun Donnellan still missing.

Hibernian caretaker David Gray also expects to be selecting from the same squad he had available for Wednesday’s win over Motherwell, with goalkeeper David Marshall, Elie Youan, Will Fish (back) and Lewis Miller (hamstring) set to miss out again.

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• Livingston have lost four of their last five league games against Hibernian (W1), as many as their previous 15 against Hibs in the top-flight beforehand (W7 D4 L4).

• Hibernian have won both of their last two league trips to Livingston, last winning three in a row on the road against them in the top-flight in May 2003.

• Livingston have lost 23 of their 37 Scottish Premiership games this season (W5 D9); the last side to lose more in a campaign in the division were Dundee in 2018-19 (27).

• Hibernian have won just one of their last nine away league games (D5 L3), beating St. Johnstone 3-1 in April.

• Hibernian have won each of their last three Scottish Premiership games with David Gray in charge by an aggregate score of 9-0 (4-0 v St. Johnstone in May 2022, 2-0 v Aberdeen in September 2023, 3-0 v Motherwell last time out).