Livingston's fate put in the hands of the court as club debt called in

LIVINGSTON FC were this morning placed into the hands of the courts after West Lothian Council called in its debt of around £280,000.The club has 14 days to settle the debt or face administration or liquidation.

The local authority is the landlord for the club's Almondvale Stadium and councillors have run out of patience with the Livingston owner Angelo Massone.

The Italian, a lawyer by profession, had pleaded for more time to assemble a rescue package, however his efforts appear to have been in vain.

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: "Several months ago we agreed a deadline of June 30 with the club's owners, by which we asked them to provide evidence that they can meet all outstanding obligations to the council. Unfortunately, the club's owners have failed to satisfy the terms of this agreement and we have reluctantly started formal legal procedures.

"We have been flexible, patient and reasonable with regards to the club's plight and have given the club's owners ample opportunity to settle the outstanding issues.

"Supporters can be assured that we have made numerous attempts to work with the club's owners at every stage of the process to help avoid this action. However, we have a duty to all residents and businesses in West Lothian to ensure debt is re-paid.

"We would like to assure supporters that a secure future for senior football at Livingston remains our priority and we hope this action will ensure the good name of Livingston FC remains intact for generations to come."

Ged Nixon, from supporters' group, Livi for Life, added: "The situation has to come to an end. We fully understand and support the action that West Lothian Council has taken.

"In order to salvage any possible chance of retaining professional football within the West Lothian community, something had to give. As a group of supporters we to have exhausted all avenues to assist and communicate with the owners of the football club to no avail."