Former MLS assistant coach John Murphy is the first American to manage a Scottish pro club, taking over second-level Livingston, but it’s hardly a glamorous position.
The club’s Almondvale Stadium has been without electricity since last month because it has been unable to pay the bill, and fans weren’t be allowed to see Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Falkirk because local police declined to issue a safety certificate for the stadium.
The Massachusetts native was most recently an assistant for the Colorado Rapids until midway through the 2008 season. He worked under Fernando Clavijo, who hired him during his earlier stint with the New England Revolution.
Murphy, 42, had spent part of last year working on earning his UEFA pro coaching badge.
“I knew it’d be a difficult situation,” he told the Boston Globe, “but I felt comfortable as the coach if I’m allowed to focus on the soccer side of it.”
Livingston faces bankruptcy unless a deal is worked out with the West Lothian council, which is owed more than $500,000 in back rent.
Neil Rankine, the former chairman of Scottish former Dumbarton, was reported to have made a bid to buy Livingston from Livingston’s chairman, Italian Angelo Massone, who has run up debts approaching $2 million.