Council rejects last-ditch rescue bid for Livingston

LIVINGSTON Football Club will be placed into administration later this week after West Lothian Council rejected an 11th-hour £500,000 rescue bid from former Dumbarton chairman Neil Rankine.

The local authority is intent to continue legal action after Livingston chairman Angelo Massone was unable to find almost 300,000 in unpaid rent for Almondvale Stadium. The legal process was set in motion 13 days ago and is expected to reach the Court of Session, the highest civil court in the land, by Thursday.

The Italian, who owns a 76 per cent stake in the club, appears to have run out of time to find a new investor. Rankine had put forward his deal on the basis that the Italian relinquish control of the club after he lost the faith of fans, public and potential backers. Rankine says the local authority would be best advised to take his offer rather than risk losing the money owed once the administrator is handed the club. He reckons, after studying the available evidence, that Livingston owe at least 1.35million, perhaps more.

Sources very close to the club suggest it has no money, no goodwill with creditors and very few tangible assets. Rankine would only say: "I am waiting to see what happens until the deadline, with time running out."

The official line from the council is "no comment" while the legal process is ongoing, but sources suggest it has lost patience with Massone and remains wary of accepting a last-minute rescue package and then dealing with a new set of businessmen who are yet to be properly confirmed. However, Rankine has warned that the council is playing a dangerous game because the club could be plunged into liquidation after legal inspection of the accounts. He says he has 250,000 to invest in the club but wants it to be run by the fans. The other half will come from other investors.

The club had to play its first pre-season friendly behind closed doors on Saturday, a 0-0 draw with Falkirk, because of failure to secure a safety certificate. One of the reasons is believed to be the ongoing dispute with Scottish Power over a bill of 32,000. The utility company is now believed to be asking for a further 10,000 from Livingston to cover legal costs and an advanced bill payment. The club have arranged a friendly with Plymouth Argyle at Almondvale on Monday, but this is now in doubt.

Meanwhile, fans belonging to the Livi for Life supporters' Trust have launched a fundraising appeal to "help secure the future of Livingston FC".