Livingston confirm club have rejected St Johnstone approach for boss David Martindale

Livingston have confirmed that the club rejected an approach from fellow SPFL Premiership outfit St Johnstone for manager David Martindale.

The 49-year-old had been the bookies' favourite for the gig following the departure of Steven MacLean and said yesterday that he was 'flattered' by the apparent interest.

However, Livingston CEO Dave Black has confirmed the club were approached by the McDiarmid Park outfit but that permission for the Perth side to chat to Martindale was rejected.

He said: "Following recent speculation over the past 48 hours regarding men's first-team manager David Martindale, I was keen to provide supporters with an update.

"Yesterday, the club received an official approach from St Johnstone for permission to speak to David about taking the vacant position at McDiarmid Park. Following discussions with John Ward, John McIlvogue and David himself, I informed St Johnstone this morning that we wouldn't be giving permission for that conversation to take place.

"David has been pivotal in both the on-field success of the club over recent years and on the off-field growth and stability of the club too - something we wish to continue under David's leadership for a long time to come."

He added: "Whilst I have no doubt that David has ambitions to move on and further his career in management eventually, we weren't particularly keen to see that next move be to a league rival who we're currently directly competing against.

"Such is the character of the man, David's first response was solely on ensuring that full focus remained on tomorrow's game at Tynecastle and that everyone at the club didn't lose sight of that. His own mantra has always been that everything at Livingston must be about the we and not the me,