Livingston sack Glenn Whelan after nine games as David Martindale returns as interim manager

Dismissal after nine matches

Livingston have dismissed head coach Glenn Whelan following a 1-0 home defeat against Stenhousemuir on 4 September 2026. Whelan, 42, departed the Scottish club after nine competitive matches in charge across four months. The former Republic of Ireland midfielder, who made 91 international appearances, was appointed in May 2026. Assistant head coach Danny Ventre, previously a player for Sligo Rovers and an assistant coach at Waterford, has also left the West Lothian club alongside Whelan.

Whelan's tenure concluded after five league matches and four cup ties during the opening phase of the 2026/27 season. In league competition, Livingston collected six points from five matches, registering two wins and three defeats to sit fifth in the table. In the Premier Sports Cup, the team recorded two victories and two draws during group play.

Ford outlines analytical search

American owner and chairman Calvin Ford confirmed the departures on 6 September 2026 in a formal message to the club's supporters. Ford explained that the board concluded a leadership change was required following the start of the 2026/27 campaign. The club has started engaging an executive search firm to evaluate prospective candidates using data metrics.

Our net will be cast far wider than it was in our previous search, and the focus of the search will be via data analytics that fit in with the clubs game model, and other important criterias that will aid Livingston FC in finding the ideal candidate to lead our club going forward.

Ford added that competitive standards required immediate improvement to match the club's objectives.

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. Nothing else is acceptable.

Martindale steps back into interim role

David Martindale has returned as interim head coach to manage first-team operations while the recruitment search progresses. Martindale previously concluded a six-year tenure as Livingston manager in January 2026, when he transitioned to the position of sporting director.

Davie's past success and proven track record in the Scottish Championship made this decision easy, and we look forward to refocusing and finding success on the pitch while he holds this position.

Martindale will work alongside interim coach Frankie McAvoy. The temporary management structure also includes assistant coaches Grant Murray and Brian Potter, who remain in their roles to support training and matchday preparation.

Managerial turnover across 2026

Whelan's departure marks the fourth coaching change for the West Lothian club during the 2026 calendar year. After Martindale stepped down as manager in January 2026, Marvin Bartley took charge of the team. Bartley then stepped down once relegation was confirmed, leaving midfielder Scott Arfield to oversee the final three matches of the season as player-manager.

Whelan was appointed in May 2026, but his spell ended after Friday's home defeat against Bartley's Stenhousemuir team. Livingston now begin their data-focused recruitment process while Martindale and McAvoy oversee first-team sessions.