Other clubs will be in the same boat as Livingston, warns Lovell

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 10:09

FORMER Livingston skipper Stuart Lovell believes the club's plight should provide a stark warning to other Scottish football clubs.

Lovell, who captained the team to CIS Cup glory at Hampden in 2004, says he is desperately saddened at the club's plight, but says it is a barometer for all of football north of the Border. And, he reckons, it is time for the footballing authorities to look closely at forming an SPL1 and 2.

"This has come round so quickly since the club was last in administration that I am shocked," he said.

"But it should be a warning to other clubs. Anyone who thinks Livingston are the only club to be in serious trouble are wrong.

"You can bet that if Livingston are unable to make a go of football outside the SPL then others are too. And, with the Setanta deal failing, then there is not the same money circulating in the game and trickling down to the other clubs. And, let's be honest, there are not that many folk around who would want to invest at the moment.

"Maybe it's time to look at the whole structure of Scottish football and how it is run. Perhaps 40-something pro clubs is just too many and we should look seriously at an SPL1 and 2 without making it a closed shop.

"I feel sorry for the Livingston fans who are having to endure this again. I thought the club would be stable after last time. It does not seem too long ago since the heady days of European and SPL football and I think Angelo Massone came with honest intentions to get the club back to the SPL."