Livingston FC have sacked head coach Glenn Whelan after a disappointing start to the Scottish Championship season. The club confirmed the decision on Sunday night, with assistant Danny Ventre also departing, as reported by the Inverness Courier.
Whelan's dismissal comes with Livingston fifth in the table, having taken six points from their opening five matches. Their recent form reads LLWLW, with four goals scored and four conceded. The Lions are already seven points behind early leaders Stenhousemuir, a gap highlighted in the current standings.
Why was Glenn Whelan sacked?
The Inverness Courier reported that Whelan was dismissed following three defeats in the first five league games. Chairman Calvin Ford stated the club had acted after "careful consideration and thorough discussions." Wigan Today noted the Irishman's tenure lasted less than 100 days, having been appointed in May after replacing Marvin Bartley.
Ford's statement, carried by Wigan Today, made the club's stance clear: "Mediocrity is not an acceptable solution." The poor opening included failure to qualify from their Premier Sports Cup group. Former boss David Martindale and Frankie McAvoy will now take temporary charge, assisted by Grant Murray and Brian Potter.
What is the interim plan for Livingston?
David Martindale, the club's sporting director, will step back into a coaching role alongside Frankie McAvoy. The club statement cited Martindale's "past success and proven track record in the Scottish Championship" as key to the decision. This interim setup will oversee the squad ahead of their next match.
Livingston have begun a formal search for a permanent successor. Ford confirmed the process would involve a data analytics firm to find a candidate fitting the club's game model. The search scope is described as being "far wider" than in the previous appointment round. You can view the current player roster on our squad page.
What happened in the match against Stenhousemuir?
The BBC covered the backdrop to Friday's Championship fixture, which Stenhousemuir won. It was the first meeting between the sides since Stenhousemuir manager Marvin Bartley left Livingston at the end of last season. Bartley told the BBC he had not spoken to sporting director David Martindale since his departure.
"No, I've not seen or spoken to Davie since leaving the football club," Bartley said. A Reuters Connect image from the match showed Livingston's Bradly van Hoeven driving forward under pressure from Stenhousemuir's Leyton Grant. The defeat left Livingston looking to regroup quickly.
What's next for Livingston FC?
The immediate focus shifts to a trip to face Morton on September 11th. Morton currently sit 10th in the table, making it a key opportunity for Livingston to stop the slide. The full schedule of upcoming games is available on our fixtures page.
After that, Livingston are scheduled to host Inverness Caledonian Thistle on September 19th. The club will hope the interim coaching team can stabilise performances and improve on a goal difference of zero. Securing a positive result at Cappielow is the next concrete challenge.
