Livingston eye ex-Hearts boss John McGlynn

Published on 20/03/2013 12:00

JOHN McGLYNN has been interviewed by Livingston and is one of four candidates for the vacant manager’s job at 
Almondvale. Others in contention are Alex Cleland, Mark Burchill and Richie Burke, who is currently in temporary charge of the West Lothian club.

Hearts sacked McGlynn at the end of last month, but he is keen to return to football as soon as possible. He would relish the chance to return to the First Division having established himself there with Raith Rovers before joining Hearts last summer.

McGlynn was coaching Scotland’s Under-19 squad alongside Ricky Sbragia earlier this week having been invited to help out by Mark Wotte, the Scottish Football Association’s performance director. He is seeking a management job at club level but faces stern competition for the Livingston role.

Since the club’s board sacked Gareth Evans last month, Burke has presided over a 4-1 win against Airdrie United and a 2-0 triumph at Raith. He is officially technical coach at 
Almondvale and heads the youth academy and is popular with the players.

Cleland managed Livingston on an interim basis on three separate occasions during his four-year spell as youth coach there. Now coaching at St Johnstone, he is highly regarded by the West Lothian club’s chairman, Gordon McDougall.

He was in contention to replace Gary Bollan as manager in February 2012 but lost out to John Hughes. He was also considered to replace Hughes after the latter joined Hartlepool United last November.

On that occasion, Evans was appointed. Burchill, the 32-year-old former Scotland international, is still playing in Thailand for ESAN United but is looking to forge a career in management back in Scotland.