Livingston boss David Martindale has thrown his support behind Brendan Rodgers for Manager of the Year, providing the Celtic boss delivers a domestic Treble.

While some critics have suggested the Celtic manager’s achievements come with an asterisk due to the club’s financial muscle, Martindale pushed back on that idea, insisting that winning all three domestic trophies is anything but routine.

“I voted for Brendan if he wins the treble, because I think that plus his European exploits this year, I think that’s… everybody who says Celtic should win it [the treble],” Martindale told PLZ Soccer. 

“I don’t believe that. I think winning the three competitions is absolutely huge. I think that’s just a cheap shot or he should be winning it. I don’t think he should be winning it.

“I think that’s a huge achievement. So Brendan, I voted for Brendan based on I think he’ll win the treble I think if Brendan was to win the treble with Celtic, I think he’s the outstanding manager of the season.

“Yeah, they’ve got the biggest budget, but I don’t think that’s just as easy to say he’s going to win the treble because I don’t think football works like that.

“Huge pressures on them and you’re going to win all those trophies with all the games and throwing in Europe. It’s not easy done.”

Rodgers, who guided Celtic to their fourth straight Premiership title last week, could still add the Scottish Cup to his tally, with the League Cup already in the bag. Doing so would make it his third treble as Celtic manager, and five consecutive trophies since his return, missing out on the League Cup last season.

After the league title win, the manager is in some elite company in the Celtic history book.  He is only behind legends Jock Stein and Willie Maley in major honours won.

With the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen still to come, Rodgers is just one win away from completing another domestic clean sweep—a feat Martindale clearly believes should be recognised.