Livingston: Gary Holt resigns as head coach after 27 months in charge

Gary Holt has resigned "with great regret" as Livingston head coach.

Livingston are 10th in the Scottish Premiership, having taken only a point from their past five games, and Holt admitted he was considering his future following Saturday's loss to St Mirren.

After replacing Kenny Miller in August 2018, Holt led the newly-promoted club to ninth place and they finished fifth in last term's curtailed campaign.

"This is not a decision I have taken lightly," the 47-year-old said.

"But I feel it is the right time for me to step away. I am proud to say the work we have done over the past two years has resulted in great success, both on and off the pitch."

• Livingston's Holt given two-game ban

Head of football operations David Martindale and goalkeeping coach Tony Caig will take charge on an interim basis, with Livingston's next match a League Cup last-16 tie at home to Ayr United on Saturday.

Martindale says Holt's Livingston became a victim of their own success as they "raised expectations" with their achievements of the past two seasons.

"So when we don't quite hit those heights again it can feel like something needs to change and I totally understand Gary's thought process," he said. "Gary can leave Livingston knowing he has left us in a better place than when he arrived."

Under former Scotland cap Holt, Livingston's home form was the foundation of their top-six finish last term, with 28 points and just two defeats from 14 games the best record outside of Celtic and Rangers.

But this season they have lost five of eight games at the Tony Macaroni Arena and their away form - five points from a possible 21 - is the worst in the division.

Holt departs with the West Lothian side a point clear of St Mirren - who have played three games fewer - and four above bottom club Hamilton Academical.

'No rush for a replacement' - Martindale

Livingston are not in "desperate need" of a replacement for Holt, according to Martindale, who did not rule himself out of the running.

"I've been offered the job before, but didn't think it was right for my career development," he said. "All I'm interested now is Saturday's game.

"Rather than timescale it's more important that we get the right person in place. We need someone who'll fit into the structure.

"I didn't try to persuade Gary to stay because he knows his mind better than me."

Skipper Marvin Bartley says the players had an inkling of Holt's decision after his post-match interview on Saturday, but that his exit still came "quite out of the blue".

"We have let ourselves down, we haven't won enough games. Unfortunately the manager bears the brunt," added Bartley.

'Every team has to win every game nowadays' - analysis

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson

I'm surprised he has resigned. He had a fantastic season a couple of seasons ago and obviously it's been a difficult start. Gary has had a great wee spell at Livingston and I'm sure he will recharge himself and get back into it.

Every team has to win every game nowadays. Gone are the days you get five or six years at a club. You have to have instant success and that's just the way it is.