He may only have been in the job four months but Marcio Maximo insists that Livingston will always hold a special place in his heart.

The Brazilian was appointed head coach in 2003 but didn't stick around too long with three wins and three draws from just nine matches in charge. Issues off the field - that he respectfully won't go into during our half-hour chat - called time on his short stint in West Lothian, but he remains proud of what he achieved even in a short space of time.

Maximo is credited with creating a new philosophy at the club, even 18 years ago now, of promoting from within, bringing youth players through from the academy and giving them their shot. A fresh-faced Robert Snodgrass is living proof of that having been welcomed to the first-team by Maximo. Former defender and current Dundee boss James McPake is another he aimed to work with as a kid.

And he beams with pride at the mention of Snodgrass's name as he remembers him as being wet behind the ears, albeit while he was raw he was talented. Like another player Maximo worked with as part of Brazil's under-15s and 17s youth squads - the OG Ronaldo.

Football, of course, is a results driven business and Livi needed points to stay in the top division back in the day. So patience, perhaps, was not always a luxury they could afford with Maximo prioritising the bringing through of youngsters. But he regrets nothing, and instead believes his philosophy has been proven to be the right call all these years later.

"My time at Livingston was short but I still keep up-to-date with them in the news," Maximo told Herald and Times Sport. "I enjoyed my time there, the club, the fans and the city. The country as well, Scotland is wonderful.

"The results we got at the time when I was manager was three wins, three draws and three defeats. We played Celtic at Parkhead and lost there. So for me, I think I might have tried to change the mentality a bit too quickly. I wanted to implement my ideas quickly because the people accepted the change. In Scotland it has to be a little bit different at a time, especially the model we wanted to implement.

"When you come from South America, and as an international coach, you have to maybe do things a bit different. The timing maybe wasn't perfect. That's part of life, sometimes people accept ideas very fast and other times maybe not In terms of bringing the younger players through to first-team I think time has proven that to be correct. The players we promoted were right, not only for the club, but for the future.

"Robert Snodgrass was one of three players I promoted at 17. And we were right to bring these young players through at that time, it just didn't work out because of timing. I've worked with five national teams and we've always tried to implement that sort of system, and we tried at Livingston.

"It can take time in football to prove you were right, sometimes. But the philosophy the coach is doing now, it shows the club has come far. Now it's good because the squad has shown it is possible. Clubs like Celtic and Rangers have very good youth academies but they also have finances and can buy players. But they produce a lot of good players and a lot of clubs in Scotland have good players. I'm proud that Livingston have discovered their own way now and that our philosophy was correct."

Livingston under David Martindale are now 90 minutes - if not 120 plus change - away from lifting the Betfred Cup at Hampden Park. And Maximo is desperate to see his former employers hold the silverware aloft at the end of the match.

He wants success for his old club and their fans because he believes their loyalty and the love they've shown their club deserves reward. "I wish Livingston such luck in the cup final as I will never forget them," he added. "They gave me a beautiful welcome and I hope that, not only do they win the game, but that they continue to do things in the correct way. For their fans, for the coach and staff. I hope they win the trophy because they deserve so much."