Livi turn to Gough

Former Rangers, Everton and Scotland captain Richard Gough (C) has been appointed as the new manager of troubled Scottish Premier League outfit Livingston.

Former Rangers, Everton and Scotland captain Richard Gough has been appointed as the new manager of troubled Scottish Premier League outfit Livingston.

It is the first managerial appointment for the South African-born former defender, who is to be assisted by experienced coach Archie Knox, a former deputy to both Sir Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen and Manchester United and Walter Smith at Rangers and Everton.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for me to demonstrate my capabilities as a manager," Gough said after his appointment.

Livi sacked former boss Allan Preston last week and promptly beat Kilmarnock 3-1 on Saturday to get themselves off the bottom of the SPL table.

"I watched Livingston at Rugby Park last weekend and look forward to working with the team firstly as we seek to improve the club's league position, and also to plan ahead and strengthen the squad for this season and next," Gough added.

Pearse Flynn, head of the consortium which controls the club, said Gough had got the job on the strength of his record as a leader on the pitch.

"He achieved great success on the field and is now extremely ambitious to succeed in management.

"We are excited by his ideas and expect that his appointment will have a strong and positive impact on the club's fortunes."

Flynn heads Lionheart Management, which has been running Livingston since June under an arrangement with adminstrators appointed last season to prevent the League Cup holders from sliding into bankruptcy.

One of Gough's first tasks as manager will be to decide the future of club captain Stuart Lovell. The Australian midfielder was left out of the squad that won at Kilmarnock on Saturday after publicly criticising the leadership of former boss Preston and Flynn.

Livi goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie believes Gough has the qualities to emulate the achievement of former Hearts boss Craig Levein, who found instant success after going straight from playing to management at Tynecastle before departing for Leicester City.

"Richard will be looking to get his foot into management and use his knowledge of the game to benefit players, just like Craig did when he went to Hearts," McKenzie predicted.

"They were very similar types of players so you can draw parallels and I hope the new manager does as well here as Craig did at Tynecastle. If he's half as successful we'll be doing well. His stature certainly helps. A lot of people have a lot of respect for Richard and it'll be interesting to hear what he has to say about the game."