Bollan and Welsh will team up again at Almondvale with Livingston

Former Dundee United and Rangers defender Gary Bollan will be named Livingston's new manager next week.

It follows the departure of chairman Angelo Massone after an agreement with the club's new financial backers, Gordon McDougall and Neil Rankine.

Bollan had been in charge of Clyde's youth set up until April, when he left Livingston's Division One rivals because of their financial problems.

Former Cowdenbeath manager Brian Welsh will head the club's youth set-up.

John Murphy, the former goalkeeping coach promoted to head coach in June by Massone, has been asked to remain with the club.

The American will be in charge for Livingston's Co-operative Insurance Cup tie away to Albion Rovers on Saturday.

For me, it's just a case of dealing with things day-by-day because football has a habit of throwing up the unexpected Livingston head coach John Murphy

McDougall, who is expected to become the club's new chairman, told BBC Scotland: "We're delighted that John will be in charge of the team on Saturday.

"We're fully supportive of John and the team and will be holding talks with John next week regarding his future role with the club."

Murphy preferred to concentrate on the trip to Cliftonhill.

"The players have been in a difficult situation, but the news looks a bit better now and hopefully that will act as an incentive," he said.

"For me, it's just a case of dealing with things day-by-day because football has a habit of throwing up the unexpected."

Bollan had a two-game spell as caretaker manager with Clyde after the departure of Colin Hendry before being promoted from head of youth to first-team coach under John Brown.

As a player, the 36-year-old started his career with United before moving on to Rangers, St Johnstone, Livingston, Motherwell, Clyde and Brechin City.

The 40-year-old Welsh was a former team-mate of Bollan's at Tannadice and also played for Hibernian, Stenhousemuir, Clydebank and Cowdenbeath.

He had a two-year spell as Cowdenbeath manager and most recently was coaching Clyde's under-16 team.

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