Talk of demotion is rubbish, says Massone

May 14 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DROP TALK IS RUBBISH

LIVINGSTON chairman Angelo Massone has furiously denied press reports suggesting the club could be relegated to the Third Division this summer.

It has been claimed this week that the Scottish Football League were considering demoting the Lions to the third tier of Scottish football unless the club gave assurances that players’ wages will be paid in full and on time.

But Massone insisted to the Courier that there was no chance of any impending relegation from the First Division.

He said: “It is rubbish and when I come back to Scotland I will address it.

“The press continue to report on lies about the club and I’m surprised at this news being in the media.

“But I can confirm it is not true as I spoke with the SFL recently and everything was very good between us.

“You can forget about Livingston being relegated to Division Three as it is not going to happen.

“It is a non-story and the SFL are very positive about Livingston FC.”

It was claimed, this week, that the SFL management committee was considering hitting the West Lothian club with the severe punishment after a season of consistently late payments to the players.

Several of the first team are said to be still waiting for their wages for April and club chairman Angelo Massone was summoned to a meeting with SFL chief executive David Longmuir last week.

The Livingston chairman has insisted the meeting between the club and the league was constructive and David Thomson, Operations Director of the SFL, backed up the Italian by revealing no such sanctions had been discussed by the management committee.

Thomson said: “The management committee do have the power to implement these kind of sanctions but at this time I can categorically confirm that the SFL are not contemplating relegating Livingston to the Third Division.

“The SFL have had complaints from players about several late payments which resulted in us inviting the club to attend a meeting.

“Angelo Massone came to Hampden Park last week and we had a very frank discussion where he had the chance to bring the committee up to date on the situation.

“No decisions were taken or discussions whatsoever on any sanctions against Livingston.

“The case is a work in progress and the players’ wages problem is a live issue and an ongoing matter.

“But I stress, at no time last week was any mention made of any sanctions at this point in time.”

It has been a difficult season off the field for Livingston which is said to have severe financial difficulties.

The West Lothian club has been in court several times this season and was back in the dock yesterday to defend claims brought against it by The Value Innovators Ltd and is due again today (Thursday) for a case brought by HBJ Gateley Wareing.