Scott Robinson has begged the SFA to let David Martindale finish the job he's started after heading Livingston into the Betfred Cup Final.
The Livi boss made it 11 games unbeaten in charge as his side dug in to defeat St Mirren 1-0 at Hampden.
But he faces an SFA fit and proper person hearing on Tuesday morning which could yet deprive him of taking on the job permanently.
Martindale served four years behind bars from 2006 for drug and money laundering offences and will go before a Hampden panel this week to find out if he can continue in the role.
And after setting up a return trip to the national stadium for next month’s final against St Johnstone, match-winner Robinson sent a message to the SFA: “I will say just give him the job. There’s no two ways about it, he deserves it.
“No matter what’s gone on in his life, he deserves it - he’s a football man now.
“This is his life. So he more than deserves it for where he’s taken this club, what he’s done for me.
“For anyone to take that away from him would be very, very, very harsh.
“He’s been a massive influence on me since I came to the club. We’ve been on a great journey as a club, all the way from League One all the way up to the Premiership.
“We’ve been able to hold our own and now we’re in a national cup final so it’s a massive achievement for this football club.”
Robinson headed home in the ninth minute to separate the two sides in a slugfest of a clash.
Livi won’t be caring though as they prepare for a first final in 17 years - since they won this competition under David Hay.
Robinson, who has a 2012 Scottish Cup winners’ medal from his time at Hearts, was playing for East Fife only four years ago.
But now he’s relishing the chance to add to his medal collection.
He beamed: “To be back here in a cup semi-final at Hampden, it just shows that all the hard work has paid off.
“If you have that belief in yourself and never give up then good things can happen.
“I didn’t have another job at East Fife, I said to myself I’d give it one year and give it absolutely everything in that one year to get back to full-time football. Thankfully I managed that the first time of asking and I’m really thankful I found a club like Livi.
“I’ll probably sit down tonight and think back on things like that, and how far I’ve come.
“It’s where you want to be as a player. I’m in a fabulous dressing-room with a great bunch of lads and I just hope we can go on and lift the trophy now.”
