PARTICK Thistle boss Alan Archibald has yet to rule himself out of the running for the vacant managerial role at Swindon Town.

Despite playing down links to the role vacated by Luke Williams at the start of the month as ‘speculation’ last week, the 39-year-old admits he would have to think through the offer should Swindon make an approach for him, with the Adver understanding at this stage that no official approach has been made by the club.

Archibald, who is the longest serving manager in the Scottish Premiership, with Thistle lying sixth with two games remaining in their domestic campaign, was speaking on Sky this afternoon and while he admits he is enjoying himself north of the border, he will have to weigh up his options should Town come knocking.

“I think you would have to consider it, I think everybody would,” he said.

“What you have got to also weigh up, which is a big factor, is what you have got here as well.

“I’ve got a fantastic club here, a good board, we’ve got a good environment now that we work in and we’ve got a good squad of players.

“There’s also a lot going on in the background involving the training ground.

“It’s a very happy place to be at the moment and long may that continue.”

Archibald, who has been in charge at Firhill since 2013, has had to fight hard in the past to keep some of his best players at the club and will have to balance up the pros and cons should a formal offer be made.

“I tell the players that every season when I try to keep hold of them and some of them have found out the grass isn’t always greener,” he added.

“You’re sometimes are at a place where you enjoy it and that is a big sale to the players as well.

“I think as a manager now as well, you’ve got to take that into consideration when you see how long people last or how long they don’t last in jobs.”

Meanwhile, Steve Cotterill, who is a rank outsider for the County Ground role in the bookies' reckoning, has turned down Birmingham City's offer to be assistant manager on a one-year deal.

“The club made me a good offer and my decision was solely based on being a number two, whereas really I have been a manager for a long time in my own right," he told bcfc.com.

“Harry Redknapp asked me to come in and help for three weeks and I believe that’s what I firmly did.”