Livingston REJECT David Martindale approach from St Johnstone as ambitious Perth raid shown the door

Livingston have rejected an approach from St Johnstone for their manager David Martindale.

Martindale has established the Lions as a Premiership side over the past three seasons and has continually had them punching above their weight despite contending with the lowest budget in the league. He'd been one of the frontrunners with bookies for the vacant St Johnstone post after they parted company with Steven MacLean.

Now it's been revealed that Saints did make their approach - but it's been booted out by Livingston chiefs. It's understood Martindale had been reluctant to leave Livi for St Johnstone and an official Livi statement to that effect serves as the final nail in the Perth side's chances of landing him. A statement from club CEO Dave Black: "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 on 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