Former Celt Mark Burchill has been appointed player/assistant manager of Livingston.
The 32-year-old burst on the scene under Dr Jo Venglos but was sold by Martin O’Neill to Portsmouth before going on to play for a dozen clubs on both sides of the border.
Burchill won six full caps for Scotland and returns to Scotland following stints in Cyprus and Thailand.
Livi have had an eventful season on the managerial front with John Hughes and Gareth Evans in charge before today’s appointment of Burchill and Richie Burke.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me,” Burchill said. “But I see myself playing for the next two or three years.
“I should up to speed and playing within a couple of weeks. I know there is fantastic potential at the club, with the young kids coming through.
“I got an interview for the job and I think they felt I was inexperienced as a manager, but I think this is a perfect match, it keeps continuity with Richie being the manager.
“We want to play the same way. I got disillusioned with Scotland, being a small striker told to chase long balls, that’s why I decided to go abroad.
“I wish I’d gone years earlier. Two or three years abroad were worth seven or eight in Scotland in terms of what I learned.”
Livi chief executive Ged Nixon added: “We see them as the ideal candidates to take forward our hopes and aspirations for the future – to develop our own quality young players and deliver an attractive and successful team at first team level,” said Nixon.
“Richie has worked closely with the club since last summer when he arrived to take up a post with the Livingston Youth Foundation and he has extensive coaching experience from his time in the USA.
“Mark is at an earlier stage in his coaching career, but has all the attributes required to make a successful transition from playing into management. As his hometown club, we are delighted to give him an opportunity to start that journey.”
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Awww. They grow up so quickly. Good luck son.
Got a big job on their hands, I’d think such an appointment owed much to lack of finance than anything else. Clubs such as Livingston have little option but to go with youth and hope to strike lucky.
Wish him well but a very tough task for all concerned.