Next Livingston Manager: Five Potential Candidates to Replace Glenn Whelan
Livingston have sacked Glenn Whelan after just nine games in charge, with David Martindale returning to the dugout on a temporary basis alongside Frankie McAvoy.
Whelan was appointed in May following Livingston's relegation from the Scottish Premiership, but two wins from his five league games left the West Lothian club fifth in the Championship after a 1-0 home defeat to Stenhousemuir.
Chairman Calvin Ford confirmed the exit in a statement, adding that the search for a permanent replacement will be "far wider" than last time and driven by data analytics. "Mediocrity is not an acceptable solution," Ford said.
UK betting sites have yet to open a formal market on Livingston's next permanent head coach.
Martindale, who stepped down as manager in February to become sporting director, will lead the search alongside the board, but he has already been clear that his own return to the touchline is a stop-gap rather than a permanent solution.
Next Livingston Manager Candidates
With no market currently priced up, here at Free Bets, we've picked out five names who could be in the frame for the Almondvale job.
David Martindale
David Martindale is already back in interim charge alongside Frankie McAvoy, and after six years in permanent control between 2020 and February 2026, he remains the popular choice among Livingston supporters.
He only stepped upstairs to become sporting director seven months ago, so a swift return to the touchline on a permanent basis would be a smaller step than most candidates on this list.
Scott Brown
Scott Brown has been out of work since leaving Ayr United in March, after an earlier spell at Fleetwood Town ended in the sack in 2023, and the Celtic legend is still looking to establish himself as a manager.
His playing pedigree remains unmatched by anyone else in the frame, and a chance to rebuild his managerial reputation at Championship level could appeal to both parties.
James McPake
James McPake has been out of work since Dunfermline Athletic sacked him in December 2024, having previously led Dundee to promotion to the Scottish Premiership in 2021 and won the League One title with Dunfermline in his first season there.
His record of getting teams out of the Championship is exactly the kind of experience a club looking to bounce straight back to the top flight would want.
Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Ferguson has been out of work since Inverness Caledonian Thistle sacked him in October 2024 as the club fell into administration, a tough end to a 13-month spell that followed an earlier stint at Forest Green Rovers.
He's made no secret of wanting back in, telling reporters this summer "I just need a job", and a return to Scottish football with a club of Livingston's size would suit both parties.
David Healy
David Healy has managed Linfield for over a decade, winning six NIFL Premiership titles, and is contracted at Windsor Park until 2027.
He denied being in talks with Shelbourne over the summer, but with little left to prove domestically in Northern Ireland, a switch to Scottish football would represent a fresh challenge if Livingston came calling.
For now, Martindale and McAvoy remain in interim charge, with Livingston's next game away to Greenock Morton.
But with the club fifth in the Championship after five games and a permanent search already under way, this page will be updated if a formal market opens or a frontrunner emerges.
