New Livingston boss Gary Holt will let his No.2 David Martindale help pick his team to face St Mirren - but he knows the buck stops with him.

Holt has taken over from Kenny Miller - who was stood down earlier this week after just two months in charge amid rumours of friction with Martindale.

But Holt is happy to work with the existing set-up at Livi and says he will rely on his new right-hand man to see him through the opening weeks of his Almondvale reign.

The former Kilmarnock and Norwich midfielder, speaking before Saturday's trip to Paisley, said: "I only came in yesterday, I can't start going, 'I don't want him playing or him playing'.

"Davie will run it as such, I will have input in certain areas. We've mulled over a couple of tweaks.

"It will be joint-managed tomorrow with Davie giving me input in who plays well here and there and us deciding how to adapt it.

"But I can't come in and pick a team on Thursday when I don't really know the players and their wee nuances, so I'll be led much by the backroom team and Davie."

But Holt also knows the responsibility for steering Livingston through their first season back in the Ladbrokes Premiership lies with him.

"I sit in the manager's chair, I get changed in the manager's office," he said. "See if the results don't come in, it will be the manager who gets the bullet. So I'm fully aware of that.

"Davie and I get on great. I've spoken to him numerous times before. He's similar to myself - down to earth, humble and wants to work hard and help the team and the club do well."

The former Falkirk boss's appointment brings to an end to a two-year stint in the coaching wilderness.

And he thanked wife Lisa for standing by him during the dark days that have followed his exit from his last post as Norwich assistant boss.

"When you are on the outside you are waiting for someone to let you in, so you have to be patient," he said.

"Did it take longer than I hoped? Aye. As time dragged on though my family probably thought I was being stupid - but I wanted to be a number one again and that was my aim.

"I'd be lying if I said I always thought something would come up. Of course you have doubts but that is where I have got to give credit to the wife as she backed me to the hilt.

"I was applying for jobs. How many? Quite a few to be honest. I had a couple of interviews but never got over the final step. Some I didn't just hear back from and those were the ones that played on my mind.

"Thankfully now I've got this opportunity. I'll approach like this is my only chance and give it everything."