Ex-EFL star immediately resigns from manager role five days after relegation

Ex-EFL midfielder Marvin Bartley has resigned as manager of Livingston after being asked to reapply for the role.

It comes just five days after the club were relegated from the Scottish Premiership.

Ross McDairmant Photography

Bartley, who had been in charge since the start of February, has left the Almondvale Stadium alongside his assistant Neil Hastings.

Midfielder Scott Arfield will take interim charge of the first-team for their final three league matches of the season.

His tenure begins with a trip to face Dundee on Saturday afternoon.

The news follows Livingston’s relegation to the Scottish Championship last weekend.

Their immediate return to the second tier was confirmed on Saturday after Kilmarnock’s win over Dundee United.

Livingston had secured promotion at the first attempt via the play-offs last term.

Bartley statement

Confirming his exit on X, Bartley wrote in an emotional statement: “Ultimately, this decision comes following a conversation on Monday where the position that had previously been outlined to us changed considerably.

“Following the Motherwell game on January 31, I was asked to take on the role and initially declined given the circumstances at the time.

“After further conversations, I agreed to do so based on assurances around stability and the opportunity to lead the club into next season should relegation happen.

“For that reason, it came as a major surprise to later be informed that Neil and I would need to reapply for our positions as part of a new process being introduced by the club.

Robert Perry

“We don’t feel that the situation we agreed to take on, and the one now being presented, are the same. As a result, we feel stepping away is the right direction for us both.”

Bartley had already started his coaching career with the club before retiring as a player with Livingston in 2022.

He later served as assistant manager under David Martindale before a spell in charge of Queen of the South.

The 39-year-old returned to Livi last summer, re-joining Martindale’s backroom team.

As a player, the former midfielder had spells in non-league and at Hibernian either side of starring in the Football League.

Bartley spent time with Bournemouth, Burnley and Leyton Orient during his playing career.

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Across those spells, he made a total of 225 EFL appearances, scoring eight goals.

Since retiring, Bartley has also worked as a pundit alongside his coaching career.