Davie Hay and Allan Preston watch Wednesday's match

Manager Hay and assistant Preston sat side-by-side as they watched Partick Thistle defeat Hibernian.

Prospective Livingston owner Pearse Flynn wants Preston to take over as boss next season.

But, while angry at the decision, Hay has insisted that Preston has not done anything to "stab me in the back".

Preston admits that he would take the job should Flynn's Lionheart consortium complete a takeover of the club presently in administration.

But, despite claims by Flynn that Preston was the real brains behind the CIS Cup winners, the Livi assistant insisted: "Davie is a father figure to me.

I've had phone calls from people accusing me of being a back-stabber Livingston coach Allan Preston

"Some of the things that have been said over the past few days have hurt me.

"I've never said I was the driving force and, for someone else to do that, is very disappointing.

"These past few days have been among the hardest of my football career.

"I've had phone calls from people accusing me of being a back-stabber and others have pilloried me in the press and on radio phone-ins.

"I have done nothing wrong. The first I knew about this was when Davie told me himself.

"I was shocked when I found out that Pearse Flynn wants me to be the new manager.

"But, if the deal goes through, I will take it on.

"In the meantime, I will continue to work under - and learn from - Davie."

Hay added: "I've a lot of regard for Allan and the job he does here.

"He is an important member of the team and I have said before that he will go on to become a good manager himself one day.

Hay critical of Livi bidder

"However, I think this has come too early from him.

"If Pearse Flynn takes over, he is entitled to appoint whoever he likes.

"But I've had to react because he has made a statement on the present management team without any knowledge of the reality of the situation.

"It's also important people know that Allan has not stabbed me in the back.

"There have been unfair accusations made against him and I wanted to clear the air for his sake as much as anything else."