Livingston fans organise protest against club's Italian owner

Published on Friday 19 June 2009 22:45

LIVINGSTON supporters are planning a mass protest against controversial chairman Angelo Massone at Almondvale today as the club lurches from one crisis to another.

Long-suffering fans of the West Lothian club have finally lost all patience with the Italian after Scottish Power switched off the club's electricity supply on Thursday due to an unpaid bill of 32,000.

Many supporters fear the writing is on the wall for their club as West Lothian Council is also due an estimated 280,000 in rent arrears by the end of this month.

However, what infuriated supporters even more than Massone's failure to pay the utility bill was his feeble excuse that the fans are partly to blame for Livingston's financial plight.

Don Paul, chairman of the Supporters Trust, insists Massone has lost all respect among the entire Livingston support and has urged him to sever all ties with the First Division outfit.

He said: "There is going to be a protest on Saturday at the stadium and I believe this will be attended by all the supporters groups.

"I think what is significant is that in the last 24 hours, the last of Mr Massone's supporters have turned against him now.

"We believe the club would be far better without him. He did divide the fans before but now we have seen his true colours. This excuse that it's only him that is supporting the club is a lot of rubbish."

Former Cowdenbeath chairman Gordon McDougall has previously said he is willing to take over Livingston from Massone and Paul hopes his proposal bears fruit.

He added: "I think Mr McDougall has said all the right things about how he would run the club.

"I don't believe Massone has any plan and we ask him to walk away."

It's understood Livingston yesterday made no attempt to resolve the issue with Scottish Power. Massone said he did not pay the electricity bill on purpose to highlight his personal stake in the running of the First Division club.

"It was our decision to show the people what happens if I don't put in my own money," explained the Italian. "People told me from the beginning that it's not correct to pay with private money and the company needs to be self-sufficient.

"So, if Angelo Massone doesn't put in the money, the lights are off; this is the message.

"Unfortunately, if I don't put the money in, Livingston can't survive. This has been the case from the very beginning. Every day, I have put in money to give Livingston the possibility of survival.

"I will definitely put in more money, but the message is: This is what happens if I don't.

"We need the help of the community and businessmen in West Lothian. Without this, I can keep putting in my money for another year or two, but Livingston will have no future.

"People who speak badly of me perhaps think they are winners. But no, they are the losers, because this is what happens without me."

Massone also had trouble paying Livingston's players on time last season and the latest setback has further infuriated supporters, who will today make clear their opinions on his stewardship of their club.