Michael Nottingham keen to stay at Livingston next season regardless of division

Michael Nottingham is adamant the prospect of relegation has not diminished his appetite to remain at Livingston next season.

The Lions – 12 points adrift at the foot of the Premiership with five games to play – could be officially demoted to the Championship on Saturday if they lose at home to second-bottom Ross County.

Manager David Martindale said earlier on Wednesday he expects a huge summer overhaul, with “probably 14, 15 players who are not going to be here next season”.

However, Nottingham, who moved north from Accrington last summer, remains contracted to the Lions for next term and insisted a drop to the Scottish second tier will not prompt him to seek an exit from West Lothian.

“I expect to be here next season,” said the 35-year-old centre-back. “It’s in my contract that I can stay here next season and I really enjoy it up here. I definitely want to stay up here.”

Asked if he would still be happy to play for Livingston in the Championship, Nottingham – who had previously spent his entire career in England – said: “100 per cent, 100 per cent.”

Although the campaign has been difficult on a footballing level for Nottingham and his colleagues, the defender is delighted to be back playing regularly after the end of his time at Accrington and the start of his Livi career were disrupted by injury problems.

“Yes, definitely,” when he asked if he was back at a level of fitness he was happy with.

“Obviously I had a tough start, but gradually as the season has gone on I’ve played more games and been able to complete 90 minutes on a regular basis.

“There have been a few little niggles along the way, but I think we’ve all been suffering because it’s been a grind.”

Nottingham knows Livingston are staring down the barrel of relegation but he is hoping they can at least prolong their increasingly forlorn fight by another week by defeating County this weekend.

“Early on in the season, it wasn’t such an issue being bottom of the league because you’ve got so much time to get yourself away from there,” he said.

“But obviously the closer you get to the end of the season, the less chance you have of getting out of it.

“The chances of us staying in this league for next season are very slim at the moment, but there’s still a small chance so we’ve just got to keep that belief and try to win the next game and see where it takes us.”