David Martindale is adamant he has no burning desire to leave Livingston despite seeing his name loosely linked to higher-profile managerial vacancies.

The 48-year-old has turned his life around since spending four years in prison more than a decade ago and has established himself as an impressive cinch Premiership boss in recent seasons after being given an opportunity to work his way up with the Lions.

Martindale has been touted as a contender for the Aberdeen and Dundee United vacancies in recent weeks, while he was even mentioned in some quarters as a possible option for Rangers following Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s sacking in November.

He admits he has ambitions to test himself at a higher level at some point in the future, but he insists he is completely content with the West Lothian club.

“I’ve got ambition, I want to do well financially, I want to challenge myself in other leagues, but I’m happy at Livingston Football Club,” he stressed.

“Do I have any aspirations to not be at Livingston Football Club? Of course I do.

“I know I’m contradicting myself here but in the short-term, mid-term, (chief executive) John Ward and (chairman) Robert Wilson will decide my future, not me.

“If John and Robert get a phone call and it’s right for everybody, I’ll speak to them but I’ve not got any aspirations not to be at Livingston. I come in every day to do the job to the best of my ability.

“I don’t put David Martindale first, I put Livingston Football Club first. I think the day I start putting David Martindale first in terms of the football club, I’d start making bad business decisions and I’ll never ever do that. I’ll always put Livingston before David Martindale.”