Collins and Hughes set to lead Livi

LIVINGSTON were today set to appoint former Hibs managers John Collins and John Hughes as their new management team.

In an ambitious move by the First Division club, Hughes will take charge of first-team affairs while Collins, who has been out of work since leaving Belgium club Charleroi in 2008, will be appointed as the club’s director of football.

The pair succeed double-title wining manager Gary Bollan who was sacked last week after a disagreement with the board.

It is understood the club want to concentrate on developing players and Collins and Hughes will be tasked with bringing through the club’s youngsters.

Hughes’ record of blooding young players during his time at Falkirk and then at Easter Road impressed the Livingston board, who hope he and Collins can continue the successful youth policy which has unearthed the likes of Graham Dorrnas, Robert Snodgrass, James McPake, Murray Davidson, and Leigh Griffiths in recent years.

Livingston currently lie fourth in the First Division, 12 points off leaders Ross County.

Hughes, below left, has been out of football since being shown the door by Hibs in October 2010 following a run of poor results. He had guided the club to fourth position and a place in Europe the previous season, but his second season at the helm was in sharp contrast to his first.

Collins, pictured below right, led Hibs to their last major trophy when he took charge of their 5-1 League Cup final victory over Kilmarnock in 2007. He left the club the following season following a disagreement with the board over funding for new players.

Bollan arrived at Livi just as the club went into administration in 2009 which saw them demoted to the Third Division, but he guided the club to back-to-back league titles.