Livingston shirt sponsor withdraws its backing

Published on Wednesday 24 June 2009 23:12

LIVINGSTON chairman Angelo Massone's woes have worsened after the club's shirt sponsor RDF decided to withdraw its backing.

The IT solutions company has activated a clause that allows it to pull the plug on its initial two-year deal, which was signed last summer, with Livingston.

A RDF spokesperson said: "We have decided not to renew our sponsorship of Livingston for the following year.

"We have an option to renew after 12 months but we have decided not to take it up."

RDF's decision to sever all ties with the cash-stricken First Division side comes in the wake of further negative publicity regarding the club. Last week the power supply was cut off to the stadium due to Italian Massone's failure to pay an outstanding 32,000 bill.

The threat of administration was staved off on Monday when the club handed the ground's landlords, West Lothian Council, a 10,000 cheque due for rent, although the local authority has set Livingston a deadline of 30 June to pay a further 280,000.

Livingston, of course, are still without a permanent manager as Paul Hegarty remains officially suspended, but plans for the new season are continuing and yesterday they announced a pre-season game against Paul Sturrock's Plymouth Argyle. The Championship side are due to visit Almondvale on Monday 20 July, with the First Division campaign getting underway on 8 August.

Meanwhile, former manager Roberto Landi, who left the West Lothian outfit last December after just six months in charge, has landed a new job.

The Italian has been unveiled as the new manager of Belgian third division club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.