Sacked manager pledges to prove the SPFL club wrong after a 99-day disaster as former Hearts player targets the owners.

Former Livingston head coach Glenn Whelan has broken his silence following his controversial dismissal and insists the club’s decision to sack him will only strengthen his determination to succeed in management.

The former Hearts midfielder was dismissed earlier this month after just 99 days in charge at Almondvale. Whelan had been appointed to his first senior managerial position after Livingston’s relegation to the Scottish Championship, replacing Marvin Bartley as the club looked to rebuild following their drop from the top flight.

However, despite bringing eight new players into the squad during the summer, Whelan struggled to produce the immediate improvement Livingston’s hierarchy wanted. The club lost three of their opening five league fixtures, leading American owner Calvin Ford to make the decision to remove him from his position.

Whelan was sacked after just five league games at Livingston earlier this month. | SNS Group

Ford subsequently criticised the club’s performances, insisting that mediocrity was not acceptable and that Livingston would continue searching for a leader capable of delivering sustained success at a high level.

Whelan speaks out after sudden dismissal

Two weeks after leaving Livingston, Whelan has finally addressed the circumstances surrounding his departure.

Speaking to Off The Ball, the 42-year-old admitted that the experience had been extremely disappointing and described his dismissal so early in the campaign as harsh from his perspective.

Whelan explained that he had accepted the Livingston job knowing there would be significant challenges. The club had been relegated, numerous new players were arriving and he needed time to build a settled squad capable of competing in the Championship.

Instead, his managerial tenure ended before he had the opportunity to properly establish his team.

Whelan said he viewed the appointment as an opportunity to begin his managerial career under difficult conditions. He acknowledged that there was little he could do once the club’s hierarchy had already decided to end his tenure, meaning he had spent the previous couple of weeks trying to accept what had happened.

Former Hearts player sends message to owners

Despite his disappointment, Whelan believes the dismissal has given him additional motivation to establish himself as a successful manager.

The former midfielder revealed that his final message to Livingston’s sporting director and owner was particularly direct. He told them to remember his name because the circumstances surrounding his dismissal had only increased his desire to prove himself.

Whelan made it clear that his immediate ambition is to return to coaching as quickly as possible. He believes that if another club is prepared to listen to his ideas and consider what he can offer, he would welcome the opportunity to discuss a potential position.

Rather than allowing the Livingston experience to damage his confidence, Whelan intends to use the setback as motivation.

He wants his next opportunity to demonstrate that Livingston’s decision to remove him was premature and that he has the ability to become a successful head coach.

Assistant also affected by Livingston decision

Whelan revealed that his disappointment is not solely about his own departure.

When he accepted the Livingston position, he brought an assistant with him from Blackburn Rovers. The assistant had left what Whelan described as a very good position at the English club in order to join him in Scotland.

The pair therefore expected to have the opportunity to work together and develop Livingston’s new team. Instead, the project ended almost immediately, leaving Whelan particularly frustrated for his assistant.

He explained that the situation was not something either of them had planned for. They had changed their professional circumstances because they believed in the opportunity at Livingston, only for the project to be terminated so quickly.

Whelan said the sudden dismissal felt as though the rug had been pulled from underneath them.

Whelan determined to return

Despite the setback, Whelan insists he does not intend to remain out of work for long.

His previous coaching experience includes spells with Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic, where he worked alongside former Scotland internationals Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell. Those experiences helped prepare him for his first opportunity as a head coach.

Whelan now wants another chance to prove that he can succeed in the role.

His message to Livingston’s hierarchy was that he intends to get back on the coaching ladder and demonstrate what he can do. He believes the best response to his dismissal will be to find another opportunity and succeed there.

Livingston move forward under interim management

Since Whelan’s departure, Livingston’s sporting director David Martindale and Frankie McAvoy have taken temporary responsibility for the first team.

The interim management team made an encouraging start, guiding Livingston to a 4-1 victory over Greenock Morton in their opening match in charge.

They were unable to maintain a perfect record in their second fixture, however, as Livingston were held to a 2-2 draw away against Inverness last weekend.

For Whelan, the next chapter of his career will now depend on finding a club willing to give him another opportunity. After just 99 days at Livingston, he believes his managerial journey is only beginning and is determined to use the disappointment as motivation to prove his former employers wrong.