Ex-Hibs pair Marvin Bartley and Efe Ambrose handed new coaching roles at Livingston

Bartley moves up to reserve team manager while Ambrose gets role as assistant

Efe Ambrose (left) and Marvin Bartley either side of Livingston manager Gary Holt. Picture: SNS

Former Hibs pair Marvin Bartley and Efe Ambrose have been handed new coaching roles at Livingston.

Bartley, who was already part of the background staff in addition to his duties as player and club captain, has been made the new reserve team manager. He will be assisted by Ambrose and veteran goalkeeper Gary Maley.

They take over from Stevie Pittman and Derek McWilliams, who left the Tony Macaroni Arena in June.

Bartley told the club’s website: “Obviously it’s a natural progression for me to go from coach to manager and I have to thank [head of football operations] Davie Martindale and the club for trusting me in that position and it’s something I’m looking forward to.

“Efe and Stretch [Maley] are two massive characters but in all seriousness, they both bring their own high level of expertise. Stretch has been a goalkeeper for a long time and he’s now passing on that experience to the younger goalkeepers at the club and Efe has played at the absolute highest level so to have him involved is absolutely brilliant for us and the boys will love working with him.

“From a selfish point of view, it’s definitely a great thing for me because it’s what I want to do when I retire so it’s brilliant to be able to learn on the job. As bad as it may sound, I’m going to make mistakes in management and even coaching so it’s a chance to learn from those at reserve level as opposed to the first-team.”

Bartley moved to the West Lothian club after leaving Hibs in the summer of 2019. He helped the Lions to a surprising fifth-place finish in last season’s Scottish Premiership.

Ambrose joined Livingston just a few weeks before the 2019/20 season ended abruptly after going over a year without playing a competitive game following a January 2019 exit from Easter Road.

Martindale added: “For me, when I spoke to Marv originally back in 2019, part of the excitement about joining Livingston was always to get Marv involved at some level of coaching at the club. He expressed that desire to do so when we first met.

“The pandemic has probably fast tracked the opportunity in all honesty as Stevie, Derek and Marv were working very well together with the reserves last season.

“Marv is a highly infectious character who is full of positivity and has the endeavour and desire to get into management. His footballing knowledge is fantastic and I’m honestly delighted that we as a club have been able to offer Marvin the opportunity.

“Stretch & Efe are more than capable and they will bring a variety of skills to assist Marv. Both fantastic individuals and professionals in their own right.

“All 3 of the guys are very different but collectively they will do fantastically well in my opinion.

“I’m delighted that we can call the trio our reserve management team – the lads at the reserves couldn’t be in any better hands.”

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