Livingston FC have sacked manager Glenn Whelan after only nine games in charge. The club confirmed the departure this week, as reported by The 42, following a difficult start to the 2026/27 Scottish Championship season.
Whelan was appointed in May, tasked with leading the immediate promotion push after Livingston's relegation from the Premiership. His tenure began poorly with an early exit from the Premier Sports Cup group stage in July. The league campaign has seen the team win just two of its opening five matches, leaving them fifth in the table with six points. They have scored four goals and conceded four, resulting in a zero goal difference. You can see the full league picture on our standings page.
Why was Glenn Whelan dismissed?
The club's statement made its expectations clear. "Mediocrity is not an acceptable solution," Livingston Football Club said, "and we will continue to work to find the leader that delivers on the ambitions and aspirations of sustained, high-level success that we expect at Livingston." The decision shows a demand for immediate results. With the team already seven points behind league leaders Stenhousemuir, the board acted swiftly. Assistant coach Danny Ventre has also left the club alongside Whelan.
Who will take charge now?
David Martindale and Frankie McAvoy have been placed in temporary charge as interim coaches. They will oversee first-team affairs while the club conducts a search for a permanent successor. This interim setup will be tested immediately, with a trip to face Morton scheduled for September 11th. Morton currently sit 10th in the Championship table, making it a key fixture. Fans can follow the team's schedule on our fixtures list.
What was Glenn Whelan's background?
Whelan's move to Livingston was his first permanent managerial role. He had previously served as assistant manager to Ryan Lowe at Wigan Athletic before a brief spell as their caretaker manager in January following Lowe's departure. His coaching experience also included a stint with the Republic of Ireland's senior national team setup, where he worked under interim boss John O’Shea. The club expressed gratitude for his efforts in their official statement. "On behalf of everyone at Livingston Football Club, I want to express our gratitude for their hard work, dedication and service during their time with us," they said.
How will Livingston find a new manager?
The club has indicated it will employ a data-led approach in its hunt for Whelan's replacement. This suggests a broader, more analytical search process is underway. The aim is to identify a candidate who aligns with the club's stated credo of putting the Club first. The immediate focus for the interim team is preparing the squad, whose current player roster is listed on our squad page, for the upcoming match against Morton.
