Ex-Ireland international Glenn Whelan appointed new Livingston boss
The 42-year-old replaces Marvin Bartley after the club was relegated to the Championship last season and targets an immediate return to Premiership
Livingston have appointed Glenn Whelan as their new head coach, turning to the former Republic of Ireland international following their Premiership relegation.
The 42-year-old replaces Marvin Bartley, who stepped down before the end of the season as Livingston’s drop out of the top flight was confirmed earlier this month.
Whelan arrives from English League One side Wigan Athletic, where he served as assistant manager, and now takes his first senior role in management as he looks to rebuild the West Lothian side.
Speaking after his appointment, Whelan expressed pride at being handed the opportunity.
“I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity… something I’m incredibly proud of, and I will give my all for the club moving forward,” he said.
“I’m eager to grasp this opportunity and help build a successful team that the fans can be truly proud of and get right behind. I’m grateful to the board for their belief in me, and the hard work has already begun. I can’t wait to get started and look forward to the journey ahead.”
Whelan’s appointment follows a period of uncertainty at the club after Bartley’s departure, with Livingston seeking a manager capable of leading a promotion push from the Championship next season.
Sporting director David Martindale admitted the process took time but believes the club have secured the right candidate.
“I know it’s taken a little bit of time, but we needed to make sure we got the right fit for the club, and we feel we’ve done that,” Martindale said.
“After detailed interviews, Glenn came across incredibly well, and we all feel there is real alignment between how Glenn approaches the game and how we want to do things ourselves.”
Whelan now faces the immediate challenge of reshaping a squad preparing for life outside the Premiership, with expectations likely to centre on a swift return to Scotland’s top tier.