Plans to bring greyhounds to Livingston get ruff reception

Published on Friday 7 March 2008 09:30

LIVINGSTON FC bosses said they are yet to be convinced by an ambitious proposal to build a dogtrack at Almondvale Stadium.

It was reported today that Livingston owner Pearse Flynn is in talks to sell the First Division club in a 600,000 deal, and may sell to former Powderhall racing owner Eddie Ramsay.

However, he added that the club was still "a long way from completing a deal", while club chief executive Vivien Kyles said that proposals to introduce dog racing alongside football at the ground "doesn't seem logistically possible."

She added: "We currently have 10,000 seats but we only need 6000 to remain SPL compliant, but even with the reduced capacity I cannot see how you can fit a dog track around the football pitch.

"The fact of the matter is that dog tracks are oval whereas the pitch is a rectangle. I just don't see how it will work."

The ground is being leased to the club by owner West Lothian Council, and the club currently owes one year's rent totalling 150,000.

Ms Kyle said reports that the club was in debt to the council to the tune of 300,000 were "totally incorrect"

Until Mr Ramsey has presented a formal plan of how he intends to achieve to the dog track plan Ms Kyle said she will remain unconvinced.

The club has been approached by two other investors, and has also been in talks with the council over its own plans for the ground.

Ms Kyle added: "We have been in talks with the council about a project that could be much bigger than a dog track, but I am not prepared to say any more on this at the present time."

The council said that it is prepared to consider any proposal for Almondvale which protects the stadium, Livingston Football Club and enhances a sustainable future for both.

However, the council would not be drawn into any further discussion on the club's other proposals for the ground.

A spokesman said: "We cannot disclose details of private, commercial matters. We are in regular contact with the club working towards the continuing success of professional football in West Lothian."

Plans for a new greyhound track in the Lothians have faltered in recent years.

Accountant and property developer Howard Wallace began erecting a grandstand in Wallyford in 1998 but plans stalled and the ground remains unfinished.

A further bid to bring greyhound racing to Meadowbank Stadium also fell flat in February this year, after Edinburgh City Council's sports leader, Deidre Brock, declared it was a "non-starter".

Mr Ramsay has been looking for a new home for dog racing since the closure of Powderhall Stadium in 1995.

He said: "Football and greyhound racing can work hand in hand.

"Engineers and architects are confident the stadium can accommodate both sports. It's never easy to pull all the strands together but we're moving as quickly as possible in a bid to complete the deal."