Livingston

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Livingston interim manager Scott Arfield: "I thought we were brilliant. I thought we were really, really good. A tough place to come.

"There was a chance where Cristian Montano had three or four shots, had a chance to get it away, and then it comes to Robbie Muirhead and he hits it and it gets deflected. But on another day we walk away with at least scoring one goal, never mind two or three.

"Maybe there's something in that... the shackles are off because you know your fate for next season. You probably have a wee bit more freedom and a wee bit more imagination, so to speak.

"But I don't understand that either, because I came in here in February and in terms of the training levels... it was never reciprocated or replicated in the league position. Marvin [Bartley] had them absolutely popping the ball about and the performance levels were brilliant for a consistent period of time.

"We've had an opportunity now to go again and do something a wee bit different and we've done it. I feel as if the players have really, really enjoyed it. I would love to play in that system as well. You're going to give up chances just by the nature of the formation that we play in and the adventurousness. But in terms of the actual output, the physical output, I couldn't ask for any more of the team.

"I've loved the last week. I've absolutely really enjoyed it. Whether it's a honeymoon period where it's a wee bit different, I don't know."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

This season has gone from bad to terrible, with the long-hanging relegation confirmation swiftly followed by the manager and his assistant walking away.

It was a total shock when Marvin Bartley posted on his socials that he was leaving, citing that having to apply for his own position wasn't what had been agreed.

This has really rocked the Livi boat and we are in serious danger of having more managers than wins this season.

To be fair, that's only one side of the story and the club only really gave it a small mention in a rallying statement from the chairman last Thursday, which is fair enough given there may be a lot of ramifications around big Marv's decision.

What is for sure is it riled a lot of Livi fans. There has been a fair bit of negativity towards David Martindale, which built and built across the season, and it kind of went quiet when he stepped 'upstairs'.

The resignation ignited a lot of anger among the support and that was directed at the old manager. I always thought it was 50/50 in terms of a divide for and against Martindale, but this week it was clear there were a lot of fans very much against.

There have been lots of questions raised about who actually picks the team and the complete control Martindale has at the club.

There may be a way forward with Martindale as director of football being open and transparent with fans on how things are and how things will work. That dialogue is the very least that can happen.

Some of the folks I sit beside are already saying they won't renew because they are so scunnered with everything and feel the club is under the total control of one person.

As fans, we have to give the chairman the chance to put his plan into place and make the changes necessary to get us back into the Premiership at the first time of asking.

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• Dundee United have won their past five league games against sides starting the day bottom of the Scottish Premiership since a 1-1 draw with Hibernian in November 2024.

• Livingston have lost their past two league games against United and could lose to them three times in a row in the top flight for the first time.

• United have only lost their final home game in one of their past six Premiership seasons (W2 D3), a 3-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in 2022-23.

• Livingston haven't won their final away game in any of their past 10 top-flight seasons (D2 L8) since a 3-2 victory at Hearts in 2001-02.

• Dundee United's Jim Goodwin has lost just one of his nine managerial home games against Livingston in the Premiership (W4 D4), losing 2-1 with Aberdeen in April 2022.

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Dundee United midfielder Emmanuel Agyei drops out through suspension while Dario Naamo has gone for a scan on a foot injury.

Amar Fatah, Luca Stephenson (both hamstring), Kristijan Trapanovski, Isaac Pappoe (both knee) and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer (shoulder) remain out.

Livingston interim head coach Scott Arfield will freshen his side. Jeremy Bokila is improving his fitness but Connor McLennan (ankle) is still out.

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Scott Arfield enjoyed locking horns with former team-mate and manager Steven Pressley despite losing 3-0 to Dundee in his debut as Livingston's interim manager.

The former Rangers and Burnley midfielder took over after Marvin Bartley's resignation last week.

"I loved preparing for a game in a completely different way, a different capacity," he said.

"I've done coaching in terms of reserves, in under-19s but not quite at the top flight against a good manager.

"He's been my manager, he's been my team-mate so I know everything about him, I know exactly how his teams played.

"So I've really enjoyed the process of that side of the game, but ultimately we got beat 3-0.

"I didn't think it was a 3-0 game. I felt as if we just don't reward ourselves in big moments – I think that's quite symbolic of the season this year."

Scott Arfield has revealed he sought advice from former Rangers manager Michael Beale before his dugout debut as Livingston's caretaker boss. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Livingston interim manager Scott Arfield: "I don't think that game was ever a 3-0 game. Not a chance. In possession, we were excellent at times. We just need to reward ourselves in big moments.

"We had large in-play possession without really, really going after them and then the times that we do, probably symbolic of the full season this season where the pass or the cross or the shot's just not accurate enough to cause real, real problems.

"I've got three games, that's the remit. I really enjoyed the day, obviously outwith the result. The process was a learning curve for me. In terms of the process and preparing for a game differently, I actually really enjoyed it.

"It's not my thing. I think I'm very, very immature in terms of that process. It was my first ever game preparing for a game as a manager. I feel as if I've still got a lot to give as a player also."

Dundee made sure of their Scottish Premiership status for next season with a convincing win over relegated Livingston.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

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Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Clark Robertson is still working his way back after recovering from a thigh injury while Scott Wright has returned to training this week.

Livingston forward Jeremy Bokila is improving his fitness but Connor McLennan (ankle) is still out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley believes Livingston's relegation from the Premiership will make his own side's bid to secure their top-flight status harder.

The teams meet at Dens Park on Saturday and a win for Dundee would all but guarantee their Premiership survival.

Livi's relegation was confirmed last weekend when Kilmarnock beat Dundee United 3-0.

Pressley was asked if the visitors' fate already being sealed makes their own mission more difficult.

"I think harder," he said. "The biggest thing that affects performance is pressure and anxiety and Livingston are free of that, so in my opinion become a dangerous animal," he said.

"They have been a very unlucky team this year. They have performed well in many games that they haven't come away with anything.

"We have found the level of game really difficult [against Livingston]. They have been very narrow games, we have drawn two and come out winners in one where we scored pretty much in the last minute of the game.

"It is an opportunity that we don't want to give up, but we are also aware we are against a very difficult opposition."

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We asked for your thoughts on Marvin Bartley's resignation from Livingston and the appointment of Scott Arfield as interim boss.

Here's what some of you said:

Derek: Marvin did a decent job and can leave with his head held high. It's a difficult situation as I still feel David Martindale is pulling the strings somewhere and that hasn't changed. He also has to get out of the club or it'll never move forward. Arfield is a great lad and I'm sure he'll look to impress the board and hopefully finish the season on a high.

Garry: Just as fans were starting to look towards next season with a bit of positivity... Livi happens! From the outside, this is not a good look.

Malky: Unbelievable. Marv has steadied the ship, got the squad on his side and given the fans a glimmer of hope for next season, only to be stabbed in the back by we all know who.

Jo: That's terrible from Livingston, feel sorry for Bartley. However, like all business nowadays, get it in a contract or writing, not verbally, as it stands for nothing nowadays. I think Livingston didn't fancy him to get them back up, that's why they've said reapply.

Craig: Thought Marv was the right man going forward. However, the goalposts appear to have moved and he leaves at a time when players are out of contract and it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Not sure about Arfield, thought Andrew Shinnie would have been the obvious choice. Hope Calvin Ford's meddling doesn't come back to haunt us.

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Owner Calvin Ford is determined to see Livingston bounce back to the Premiership, promising to invest and stressing his commitment to the "development and ascension" of the club.

Livingston's relegation was confirmed last weekend, with just two wins from 35 games.

Head coach Marvin Bartley resigned on Thursday, claiming those in charge had moved the goalposts on the arrangement made when he took on the job in late January.

"We will invest in a budget for next year that will allow us to be one of, if not the most financially competitive clubs in the Scottish Championship," said Ford via a statement.

"We will not stop until we accomplish all of our goals, and then we will push on to grow further."

US-based Ford became the chairman and majority stakeholder in May 2025.

He said the club was building a recruitment department that will be "one of the best in Scotland" and explained that he is developing an "executive football committee" for all significant decisions.

Scott Arfield will lead an interim management team for the three remaining games of this season.

On the search for a new head coach, Ford added: "We will work to find the proper leader who is the best fit both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

"The right leader will guide our play in an aggressive, attacking football style, and help promote us back to the Premiership where we rightly belong."

• Dundee are unbeaten in six Scottish Premiership meetings with Livingston (W4 D2) since the start of the 2023-24 season, last losing to them in the competition in May 2022 (2-1).

• Livingston have only won two of 15 top-flight trips to Dundee (D5 L8), a 1-0 victory in March 2005 and 4-0 triumph in February 2022.

• Dundee have only lost one of their past eight home league games against sides starting the day in the bottom six (W5 D2), a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in December.

• Livingston's 2-0 win at St Mirren was their first in 35 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D9 L25), while they last won back-to-back outings on the road in the division in January 2023.

• Since the start of 2022-23, no player has been directly involved in more Scottish Premiership goals for Livingston than Joel Nouble (15 – nine goals, six assists), who has a goal and two assists in his last four league appearances.

Marvin Bartley's short Livingston tenure has come to a messy end.

Appointed on 1 February until the end of the season, Bartley lost only four of his 11 games in charge, with a run of four successive draws - including at home to Rangers - giving fans hope a great escape was possible.

They then kept alive slender survival chances by ending their 33-game run without a victory thanks to a 2-0 victory at St Mirren.

However, the former Hibs and Bournemouth midfielder was unable to pull off a miracle as the side failed to catch Kilmarnock or St Mirren despite coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Aberdeen last Friday evening.

Livi's relegation was confirmed the next day when Killie defeated Dundee United 3-0.

Chairman Calvin Ford says the former midfielder has "done a good job" and "steadied the ship" as manager, adding he was "grateful" for what he has done.

"He did not come into an easy situation, but he's a good leader, and he's a good human being," Ford added.

Marvin Bartley has resigned as Livingston manager following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership.

Scott Arfield will take the club for the final three games of their season.

The club's relegation was confirmed at the weekend after their draw with Aberdeen on Friday evening was followed by Kilmarnock's 3-0 win over Dundee United the following afternoon.

Let us know your thoughts here on Bartley's resignation and Arfield taking interim charge.

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Relegation is finally confirmed. To be honest, it's been in the post since January when must-win home games against fellow strugglers Kilmarnock and St Mirren ended in draws.

Livi failed to narrow the gap and those teams got a bit of momentum, not much but enough to keep ahead of us. We, on the other hand, stuttered along - not losing too many, but not winning any either.

The post-mortem and recriminations will no doubt start now.

The biggest thing from this season is the record-breaking winless streak. A new Scottish record and a tad embarrassing too.

That said, we did get 14 draws and many games were tight. No-one really scudded us, apart from a freakish result against Aberdeen. We were competitive just not effective.

I have moaned about this since January but the recruitment wasn't good enough.

Players brought in, one for a large sum of money for us, were not better than what we had and many never got a sniff of first-team action.

We signed 20 or so players over the course of the season and how many would I take next season? One or two maybe, three at a push. We got quantity when we needed quality.

Nearly all the fans are behind Marvin Bartley staying as manager for next season.

He's done alright with a struggling team, but he will have to start winning games again back in the Championship.

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Livingston defender Ryan McGowan says Kilmarnock's victory over Dundee United last weekend was "bitterly disappointing" as their relegation from the Scottish Premiership was confirmed.

Marvin Bartley's side 10 points adrift at the bottom with only three games remaining of the season.

Livingston had kept alive their slender survival hopes when they ended their 33-game run without a victory by beating St Mirren 2-0 away last weekend.

However, McGowan says prior performances meant relegation was unavoidable.

"The situation that we found ourselves in, it has been coming for a while," McGowan said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"So, yeah, it's a kick in the stomach when you're watching the game and you see that Killie scored early doors, because you always want to have that feeling of 'it just gives you another week, you get a win, you never know'.

"But it was just bitterly disappointing. And when you reflect on the whole season, there's been so many moments and so many kicks in the teeth in terms of conceding late goals, being on the end of, you know, big, big calls, which can decide games, especially against teams in and around us.

"That is not an excuse. We have not performed to the level that we want to as players and that ultimately falls on us.

"But, at the same time, it's just bitterly disappointing to get relegated and we need to dust ourselves off and get ready for next season."

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Livingston's Scottish Premiership relegation and manager Marvin Bartley's future.

Read more: What went wrong for relegated Livingston?

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