Marvin Bartley has stepped down from his position as head coach of Livingston following the club’s confirmed relegation to the Championship.
The 39-year-old, who previously enjoyed spells as a midfielder with Hibernian, Bournemouth, and the Lions themselves, took the hot seat in January. He stepped up from his role as assistant manager when David Martindale transitioned into a sporting director position.
The club confirmed on Thursday that coach Neil Hastings has also departed. In a significant move for the final stretch of the season, veteran midfielder Scott Arfield has been placed in charge of an interim management team to oversee the club’s remaining three top-flight fixtures.
A Difficult Campaign for the Lions
It has been a historically challenging season at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Despite Martindale’s successful tenure since 2014—which included leading the club back to the Premiership at the first time of asking two seasons ago—the team struggled to find form this term.
Livingston endured a gruelling 33-game winless run across all competitions, with their 31-game drought in the league setting a new, unwanted record for the Scottish top flight. While Bartley did secure a morale-boosting 2-0 win away to St Mirren two weeks ago and a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen last Friday, it wasn’t enough to save their season.
Their fate was officially sealed over the weekend when second-bottom Kilmarnock defeated Dundee United, making it mathematically impossible for Livingston to escape the drop.
Bartley leaves the club with a managerial record of one win, six draws, and four defeats from his 11 matches in charge. Arfield’s interim side will now look to restore some pride in the final games against Dundee, Dundee United, and Kilmarnock.
Co-Founder of Fitba Focus and MMA UK. A lifelong Rangers fan and former player, he combines over a decade of sports media experience with a deep-seated passion for the Scottish game. From the Ibrox stands to the lower-league terraces, Frankie is dedicated to providing honest, fan-led analysis of the full Scottish pyramid.
