Livingston FC have sacked head coach Glenn Whelan after just nine games in charge. The club confirmed the dismissal of Whelan and assistant Danny Ventre this week, as reported by RTE.
The decision leaves Livingston fifth in the Scottish Championship, with six points from five games and a goal difference of zero. David Martindale, the club's sporting director and former boss, and Frankie McAvoy will take over as interim coaches. They will be assisted by Grant Murray and Brian Potter.
Why was Glenn Whelan fired?
Glenn Whelan was appointed in late May following Livingston's relegation from the Scottish Premiership. His tenure lasted only five league matches in the William Hill Championship, yielding two wins and three defeats. The team lost its last two games against Arbroath and Stenhousemuir, leaving them seven points behind the league leaders. Chairman Calvin Ford stated the club's ambitions were not being met. "After careful consideration and thorough discussions, the club can confirm that head coach Glenn Whelan and assistant head coach Danny Ventre are no longer with the organisation," Ford said.
Who is taking charge now?
David Martindale returns to a hands-on role alongside Frankie McAvoy on a temporary basis. Martindale's past success in the Scottish Championship, including guiding the club to promotion, was a key factor in the interim appointment. McAvoy brings experience from coaching roles at Preston North End and Heart of Midlothian. The club's immediate focus is on preparing for the next fixture, an away match against Morton on September 11th. You can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What are Livingston FC looking for in a new manager?
The club has begun a search for a permanent head coach, using data analytics and other criteria to find a candidate who fits their specific game model. Calvin Ford emphasised that settling for average results is not an option. "Mediocrity is not an acceptable solution, 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," he explained. The aim is to appoint a manager who can build a team capable of challenging at the top of the table, a position currently held by Stenhousemuir.
What was Glenn Whelan's background?
Glenn Whelan, a former Republic of Ireland international with 91 caps, moved into coaching after a long playing career. His first senior management role was at Livingston, having previously served as assistant manager at Wigan Athletic in English League One. His brief spell in West Lothian ended with the club having scored and conceded four goals this season. The full squad details are available on our squad page. The interim team's first task is to halt the recent run of form, which reads two losses, two wins, and a loss from the last five matches. Livingston travel to face tenth-placed Morton this coming Friday.
