Livingston chairman and fans clash over future of Lions

May 28 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

LIVI FOR LIFE Supporters Trust chairman Don Paul took two pound coins from his trouser pocket and offered them to Angelo Massone.

“Double your money,” he shouted at the Livingston chairman as the meeting between the clubs hierarchy and the fans threatened to simmer over to boiling point.

It was just once instance of heated debate which showed the divide is not just between Livingston’s outspoken owner and some of the fans but between groups of supporters themselves.

Massone had called the meeting last week to warn supporters the club was in real danger unless they and local business got behind them.

More than 200 supporters attended the stormy meeting where Massone revealed unless an additional 300 season tickets were sold before the end of the month then liquidation is a real threat to the future of the club.

The Italian also urged supporters to try and forget the bad publicity which has dogged the club all season and admitted it had harmed the club by putting fans off buying season tickets and businessmen putting money into the club.

Massone said: “The media have been claiming we are heading into administration since last October but we are still here. It is totally true we have had problems but we are committed to finishing the project here at Livingston.

“The club had a big debt when I took over and were going down like Gretna but since then we have worked hard to reduce the debt.

“Our plan is to cancel the debt to West Lothian Council or buy the stadium by June and in July begin putting a team on the pitch. We want to cut expenses and try and make the club more self-sustainable but without the support of the local people and without local businesses on board every plan will fail. We must restart together and work together.

“As well as buying the stadium I’d like to build an academy in a separate location away from Almondvale for players throughout the whole of West Lothian and build a team which could push for promotion to the SPL in the next few years.

“People have to trust me and our project and understand they have to help the club.

“Clyde were in terrible trouble but their fans helped them and Livingston are potentially in trouble if more season tickets are not sold soon.”

The negative press reports have undoubtedly contributed to a difficult season for the Lions but the chairman also claimed one member of the playing squad had instigated problems by writing a letter to the Scottish Football League claiming wages had been late for six or seven months with the chairman insisting this was simply not true.

The press reports that the club could be relegated to Division Three were then laughed off by Massone who insisted Livi are on good terms with the SFL.

Massone also turned his attention on to the Livi For Life Supporters Trust, who have campaigned for a community-based rescue plan in the event of administration, who he reckons have an agenda to wrestle control of the club.

“My opinion is there are people who want to put the club into administration and take control of the club perhaps in Division Three or as amateurs,” he claimed.

A concerned fan on the floor then asked the chairman if he was able or willing to invest more money into the club and Massone insisted he is ready to invest more money into the club but only if he receives a message that the local community is behind his project by investing in the club.

He continued: “I have invested half a million pounds into Livingston already and have paid a big part of the debt.

“I have an agreement with West Lothian Council to buy the stadium but if people don’t put money into the club then we won’t survive.

“Last season we were at the top of the league and playing well but supporters numbers were still very poor.

“At the end of the season we only earned around £100,000 for all 18 home league matches which isn’t my fault.

“We have a very high wage bill for the division and if people stop putting money into the club then we can skip administration and go straight into liquidation.

“People don’t appreciate the energy we put into the project and we are all working so hard for Livingston and desperately want the club to succeed.”