Livingston sack manager Landi after just five months in charge

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 23:20

SACKED Livingston manager Roberto Landi believes Sir Alex Ferguson or Gordon Strachan would have struggled to cope with his selection crisis at Almondvale. The 52-year-old Italian feels his stretched squad is the key reason for his shock departure from the First Division club.

Landi has been dealing with an increasing injury list in recent weeks and was missing four key players – Roddy McKenzie, Chris Innes, Murray Davidson and Leigh Griffiths – for Saturday's disastrous 2-1 cup defeat at East Stirlingshire.

Loan pair Calum Elliot and Rocco Quinn were also blocked by Hearts and Celtic from playing and Landi feels two of Britain's greatest managers couldn't have coped either. He said of his dismissal: "Yes, I'm very disappointed. Yesterday morning I spoke with the board and we took the decision that I leave the club. I'm disappointed I haven't finished my programme after only five months with the club. We were top of the table for a number of games and now we are in a good table position.

"But the problem with my team is that right now it's a poor team. We have fantastic players, but when you have only 11 players it's difficult.

"If you want to win the league in Spain, Brazil, China or wherever, you need a good bench. If you have problems, you need players you can choose from.

"But in the last five games I've not been able to make a tactical change. Against East Stirling, we were without McKenzie, Innes, Davidson, Quinn, Elliot and Griffiths. That is too much, too much for even Celtic or Manchester United. I wanted three or four players in January so I'm very disappointed."

Landi revealed he turned down recent approaches from England for jobs, but would now like to continue his career in Scotland. He added: "It can be a crazy life. Twenty days ago I had two offers, well not offers, but interest from Derby and QPR. I said 'no' as I was under contract with Livingston and remain here. I had two years contract with Livingston but now I'm looking for another job. If it's possible I'd like to stay in Scotland; I have a good rapport with the people."

Landi leaves the club in fifth place in the First Division, six points behind leaders St Johnstone, and the club will move quickly to appoint a successor, who will become the club's eighth manager since they won the CIS Cup in March 2004.

A club statement said: "Prospective candidates for the role as manager of Livingston FC are to be interviewed shortly in the hope that a new manager will be in place for this weekend's fixture with Dundee."

Livingston defender Dave Mackay was in no doubt that the club's "shocking" loss to East Stirling had forced Landi out.

Mackay, felt the players had not done enough for their ex-manager, especially in losing 2-1 at Ochilview on Saturday.

He said: "Roberto had a quiet word with us before training yesterday, offered his thanks for our efforts and said his goodbyes. It was sad, I've seen enough of this and I don't think Saturday helped. The performance was shocking.

"In our last eight games, we've taken four points and lost in the cup to a Third Division team. It's just not good enough.

"The players must take the responsibility for a terrible run and we're lucky not to be even further behind in the league."

Asked if the club's cash concerns have affected the players, the 29-year-old ex-Dundee player added: "There are no excuses. Yes, we read stuff in the papers day to day which didn't help but it shouldn't affect what we do on a Saturday."

Livingston fans are hopeful the search for a new manager could lead to more transparency from the club's new Italian owners over the exact nature of the money problems. Don Paul, chairman of the Livi for Life Supporters' Trust, said: "

We don't know exactly how much money (Landi] had to work with in terms of bringing in players but at the start of the season we were highly competitive and were at the top of the league. Since then our form has slipped and it's not clear whether that was a failing on the manager's part or individuals or a case of uncertainty among the players over the financial situation.

"The club will now have to bring in a new manager and he will be asking what finances he has to play with. Maybe the truth will out at that stage."