Liquidator looms as Livingston fears grow

Published on Tuesday 30 June 2009 22:46

THE future of Livingston Football Club is today in grave danger as West Lothian council prepare to appoint an interim liquidator.

Sources close to the local authority last night admitted they didn't expect Lions chairman Angelo Massone to meet the midnight deadline for payment of 280,000 debts for use of Almondvale.

It's thought the council has put sheriff officers on standby to this morning serve the First Division club notice of its intention to appoint an interim liquidator.

If Massone failed to make the deadline, the controversial Italian would have 14 days to pay up in full or risk having Livingston taken out his hands in what would be a significant step towards the club being wound up.

Massone is understood to be returning from his homeland today hopeful of renegotiating repayment, but council leader Peter Johnston has made it clear their stance won't change.

Livingston players will return for training this morning under new head coach John Murphy. It is understood cash from Leigh Griffiths' 115,000 move to Dundee has meant some players have been paid their wages following a delay.

In a separate issue, Livingston's safety certificate was annulled yesterday after an inspection at the ground. Safety officers are writing to the SFA to inform them that the club are not able to host football matches with the public in attendance until their problems are rectified.

A friendly against Championship outfit Plymouth has been arranged for Monday, 20 July, but that will have to be cancelled or played behind closed doors.

A further inspection of the ground is not expected to take place until 30 July.

Livingston's electricity supply was cut a fortnight ago over a 32,000 bill due to Scottish Power.

Meanwhile, former Hearts and Livingston midfielder Lee Makel has been handed his managerial break after taking over as player-coach with Swedish second division side Ostersunds.

The 36-year-old turned down an offer to stay as a player with East Fife and has sealed a return to Ostersunds, where he spent six months as a player before returning to Scotland last year.

The former Blackburn Rovers player marked his coaching debut by leading his side off the foot of the Division 1 Norra table with a 2-2 draw against Vasteras on Sunday.

Makel said: "It's come about pretty quickly but I'm over the moon at having this chance.

"I came out on Thursday and had only a couple of days to prepare for Sunday but we got a decent point away from home.

"It's what I wanted to do, to get into coaching, and it's brilliant to be given the chance to further my education as a coach."