Marvin Bartley rejected offers from England to stay in Scotland with Livingston.

Earlier this week Bartley signed a pre-contract agreement with Livingston and will completes his move to the Tony Macaroni Arena on a three-year deal at the end of the season.

The popular midfielder made 123 appearances for the club in all competitions in the last four years after joining from Orient.

He was an unused substitute when Hibs won the Scottish Cup in May 2016 and played a major role in the Scottish Championship title win the following year.

At an emotional press conference yesterday Bartley told BBC Scotland: “Location was massive for me. Edinburgh really does feel like home to me now, that played a part in my choice to stay here.

“I had offers on the table from down in England but I spoke to the managers and told them that I wouldn’t be taking them up.

“I probably could have earned more money down there, but I just want to enjoy my time while I’m still playing and I’m happy up here.

“I look back on my time here with pride, it’s been a brilliant four years, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I don’t think there’s much more I can achieve here, so it was time to take a new challenge. It’s a different challenge, for Livingston it’s about staying in the league and that’s a challenge I’ll thoroughly enjoy.

Paul Heckingbottom said: “It’s difficult when you lose a player like that, who has been a part of recent history and success

“The length of contract is really appealing to him and we couldn’t offer him the same terms, I get that. He wants to be playing and his game time has been limited under us.”

A statement of the club’s website read: “Hugely respected by team-mates and staff alike, he became a key cog in the squad that would go on to win the Scottish Cup and secure a return to the Premiership.

His experience was then crucial in re-establishing the Hibees as a top-flight force.

It goes without saying that Marvin departs with our best wishes and there will always be a place for him at Easter Road.”

+ posts

John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.