Scott Arfield has three games to decide if he wants to be the manager after taking interim charge of newly-relegated Livingston, but he still sees himself as being a player next season.
The ex-Rangers (144 games) and Falkirk star, who left the Central Scotland outfit in January to get more game time, was asked to move into the hot seat on Thursday via a text which arrived after interim head coach, Marvin Bartley, and his assistant, Neil Hastings, resigned.
Arfield, who joined the West Lothian club in January, told a news conference, that he was “buzzing” when the text came through asking if he would be interested in taking charge.
What happened behind the scenes before the departure of the coaching duo was “nothing to do with me” said Arfield who added: “I do not know the ins and outs.”
The Scotland under-age international, who has also represented Canada, was asked to get a team together and the 37-year-old said: “I’ve picked a team I feel is good enough to beat Dundee.”
Arfield confirmed he has spoken to Bartley, but not in any depth, and he declared: “He (Bartley) said it was a great opportunity. Whether this journey continues or it stops after May 17, I don’t have a crystal ball, but what an amazing opportunity and this club needs to try and get back up to the Premiership. The process has already started.”
The former Burney and Huddersfield player has been in the game for around two decades and does not sense that the playing squad want to get away on their holidays after a disappointing campaign.
He said: “The writing has been on the wall and we have tried to keep it as positive as possible, but if you have only won two games all season is not good enough to stay in the division. The league table does not lie.”
The men from the Home of the Set Fare are now in their third manager of the season after David Martindale, who is now sporting director at Almondvale, and Bartley.
Livingston-born Arfield said he had no idea how difficult the game is as a manager but he addressed a meeting of the players on Friday morning and has “stripped everything back”, simplifying things.
He added: “I want to make things as simple as possible. The game has never changed. It is a wee white ball with two goals.”
Arfield was asked to put out a squad that “symbolises” him and he has told the players to go out and enjoy the game as much as possible. He also wants them to showcase their talent to the outside world and said: “I want them to excite me. If they excite me they excite the fans. You don’t reinvent the wheel.”
Relegation means, said Arfield, that his men can play with a bit of freedom, but he wants players to have a smile on their face. He also wants his substitutes to come on and make an impact.
Simplicity can take you a long way, he added, and the new boss argued that Dundee will be a difficult game. He said: “We hope to make an impact.”
Steven Pressley, Dundee’s manager, needs points to retain their status in Scotland’s top league and said that Livingston could be tough to play as there is no pressure on them. So, how will Arfield approach the game?
The answer was simple: “We will try to win it. I played with Steven who was my team-mate and he was also my manager. I have a lot of time for him. I know the big fellow, he will be trying to beat us, and if they win they are mathematically away from 11th place.
“For Livingston Football Club I am desperate to win. There are loads of different scenarios. If you put yourself in a fans situation, you want momentum, you do not want this season to dwindle out, and these are another three opportunities for the players who have had a disappointing season.
”You have three games to go in a different direction and get more positivity then the club can attract better players. The outcome is going to be the same, this club will play in the championship (next season), but we want a positive momentum.”
Asked if he wanted the job, the player said that he would rather be a manager than a coach and declared: “If I get three wins, and we’ve only had two all season, you never know. You don’t know how time-consuming it is. I will find out in ten days.
“I don’t think you know if you want to be in this position (as manager) until you are thrown in. I have been thrown in at the deep end at certain times of my career so you either sink or you swim. I feel at peace taking the different role.”
He added that if things go well Livingston bosses may throw his name into the hat, but he declared: “I will not throw my name in. They (the bosses) might. I still feel I have a lot to give as a football player.”
Overall, being a player/manager is not what he envisages, and he has talked to others who have fulfilled the role. They have said it is difficult and Arfield argued: “Somebody has to be at the side making decisions as they can see it. You are fixated in the game.”
HOT SEAT: Scott Arfield in the frame for the media at The Home of the Set Fare Arena. Picture Nigel Duncan
