Marvin Bartley & David Martindale set for reunion as Livingston host Stenhousemuir - watch on BBC Scotland

Stenhousemuir manager Marvin Bartley has not spoken to Livingston sporting director David Martindale since resigning from the West Lothian club at the end of last season.

The two sides face each other for the first time in the Scottish Championship on Friday evening in front of the BBC Scotland cameras.

Back in May, Bartley and assistant Neil Hastings said they "had no option but to resign" after being asked to reapply for their positions with Livi.

The former Hibernian, Livingston and Bournemouth midfielder took charge at Almondvale in January, stepping up from a backroom role once Martindale moved into a new position.

"No, I've not seen or spoken to Davie since leaving the football club," said Bartley.

"Obviously, he's got a busy time over the summer in terms of bringing in players. He's busy, I'm busy so I've not spoken to Davie since leaving the football club."

Since his departure, Bartley has been in touch with Livingston chairman Calvin Ford, who sent him a "lovely message" wishing him well after Stenhousemuir edged past Livi on penalties in the League Cup group stage at Ochilview.

And while the nature of his departure stung at the time, the 40-year-old is relishing life with a part-time Stenny side that are still unbeaten after nine matches in all competitions so far this season.

"At the time, I was definitely hurt in the days that followed - but if you're asking me now, my full focus is on Stenhousemuir," says Bartley.

"When the situation happened, I was really, really shocked.

"But the more people I spoke to people about it - and the more people that found out about it who weren't shocked - probably made me realise that I was maybe a little bit naive and green.

"That's probably just me as a person. I take everything at face value.

"Right now, I have got no kind of feeling to it. It's just another chapter in my book and I'm just continuing to try to do the best I possibly can for Stenhousemuir."

Scottish Championship: Livingston v Stenhousemuir

Stenhousemuir have defied expectations with their stellar start to the season. They currently gaze down the table at their Championship rivals after three wins and a draw, the latest a 3-1 victory last weekend over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Appointed as Stenny boss when Gary Naysmith - who engineered promotion from League 1 - left to join Ayr United, Bartley has also overseen a successful League Cup group campaign and victory over Premiership side Motherwell, with Hearts up next in next Friday's home quarter-final.

Before that, they face Glenn Whelan's Livingston side, who have won two and lost two of their league matches so far this term.

Fairytales are no stranger to the Championship after the heroics of fellow part-time side Arbroath five years ago. Dick Campbell's Red Lichties pushed Kilmarnock all the way in a dramatic duel for the title.

Do the Warriors dare to dream of battling their way to what would be a mind-boggling double promotion, and top-flight football?

"Every club in the pyramid now dreams of one day being in the top flight," says Bartley.

"There's still so long to go and it's a boring answer for you all, but when I came into the job we spoke about what we hope to achieve and that's not changed.

"We've got that target and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what that target is because everyone had us as favourites to go down in this league and we understand we are only four games into it.

"We can't get carried away with thinking about promotion or play-offs or anything like that because this league is unforgiving.

"We're thinking about achieving our goals and if we do that, that's a minor miracle in itself when you look at the financial constraints we have compared to every other club in this league."