FORMER Livi defender Gary Bollan can be officially announced as the new manager of Livingston Football Club, taking charge with immediate effect.

Gary will be assisted by Brian Welsh, who will also take on the role of Head of Youth Development at the club. Further appointments will be made in the youth development side of the club in due course.

Speaking today ahead of tomorrow's game with Montrose, Gary said: "I am delighted to be manager of Livingston Football Club and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

"We have a great bunch of players, who have obviously been through a lot in recent weeks. So myself and Brian have been trying to get their spirits up throughout the week.

"We've been preparing all week as if we were going to have a match tomorrow, so obviously everyone is happy that we are going to be playing.

"I am inheriting a good squad, full of the players who competed well last season in the First Division. I am looking to add one or two as well, which will benefit us and make us even stronger. We will be well organised and difficult to beat.

"We just have to take things one game at a time at the moment, naturally. We want to retain our First Division status and take things forward from there. But if it's not to be - and we have to play in Division Three - nothing changes from my point of view in trying to win football matches."