Frankie McAvoy, the former Carlisle United assistant manager, has taken on a new coaching role with Scottish Championship club Livingston. The 59-year-old has been placed in joint temporary charge of the team alongside sporting director David Martindale.
This move comes after Livingston dismissed head coach Glenn Whelan and his assistant Danny Ventre following just five games of the new season. Chairman Calvin Ford confirmed the departures, stating the club's ambitions demanded immediate change. "After careful consideration and thorough discussions, the club can confirm that head coach Glenn Whelan and assistant head coach Danny Ventre are no longer with the organization," Ford said.
Livingston's decision to sack Whelan came after a 1-0 home defeat to Stenhousemuir. That result left the club fifth in the Scottish Championship table with two wins and three defeats from their opening five matches. Whelan had been appointed in May following Livingston's relegation from the Scottish Premiership and oversaw nine competitive games in total. Ford made the club's high standards clear in his statement. "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," he said.
The club plans to use data analytics as a key feature in their search for a new permanent manager, indicating they intend to cast a wide net. In the interim, the experienced duo of Martindale and McAvoy will steer the ship. Martindale was Livingston's manager for over five years before stepping down in February to become sporting director.
McAvoy's move to Scotland follows his departure from Carlisle United at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. He served as first-team coach under manager Mark Hughes last season, having joined Hughes' backroom staff after the exit of Glyn Hodges. Hughes, the former Preston North End boss, left Brunton Park this summer, prompting McAvoy's own exit. His swift appointment at Livingston provides a fresh challenge for the seasoned coach.
While McAvoy begins his new chapter in Scotland, his former club Carlisle United are handling their own campaign in the English National League. As of this week, the Cumbrians sit 14th in the table with eight points from six matches. Their record shows two wins, two draws, and two defeats, with a recent form guide reading LWDWD. The team has scored 13 goals and conceded 10, giving them a positive goal difference of three. However, they currently find themselves eight points behind the early league leaders, Boreham Wood. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings and view the full fixtures list for the season ahead.
McAvoy's immediate task is to stabilize Livingston and improve their results. The club's next fixture will be a key test for the new temporary management team as they look to climb the Scottish Championship table.
