Supporters groups call for Almondvale protest

Jun 25 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

SUPPORTER groups of Livingston hope fans will turn out en m asse to protest against the club’s current ownership regime at a rally on Friday.

An impromptu protest attracted around 50 fans from various groups, including the Livi for Life Supporters Trust and the Drum Beat Mafia last Saturday.

The meeting was prompted after chairman Angelo Massone appeared to point the finger of blame for a power cut at Almondvale Stadium at the feet of the supporters.

Scottish Power pulled the plug on the power at the football ground and Stadium House Business Centre due to an unpaid bill.

But in a television interview the chairman said he had not paid the £32,000 bill on purpose to highlight his personal stake in the running of the club.

The leader of the consortium that bought Livingston last year said: “It was our decision to show the people what happens if I don’t put in my own money.”

Following this Don Paul, chairman of the Livi for Life Supporters Trust, said Livi fans are united in the bid to oust Massone before the club folds.

He urged fans to assemble outside Almondvale this Friday at 6.30pm to protest.

He said: “It seems that all of the supporters are of the same opinion now.

“The few supporters that he did have are now saying publicly that he has lost their support.

“The antics with the power cut and then trying to blame the supporters for not supporting him is incredible.

“The whole situation is totally unsatisfactory.” Massone, who also owes West Lothian Council around £280,000 in rent arrears, made a £10,000 payment to the local authority this week. The Italian also claims to be in talks with former Dumbarton chairman Neil Rankin about a partnership at the club.

Don told the Courier this wasn’t enough to convince the fans Massone could save the club.

He said: “I believe that there was a payment that went into the council that might have bought him a bit of time.

“But I think the message remains that he has lost the faith and trust of all the supporters.

“It does not matter who he might want to team up with — we don’t trust him and want him to move on.

“That will be the message loud and clear on Friday.

“He really should look at an exit while the club is still going. I don’t think the club could survive another spell in administration.”

And it is not just the fans of the club that Massone has enraged. The power cut at Stadium House continues and Elizabeth Young, office manager at the business centre, told the Courier she was furious with the situation.

She said: “We pay 50 per cent of the bills to the club as the electricity is shared.

“There are around 20 businesses affected by the power cut and nearly 200 people work here.

“We have been paying this money in good faith but it looks like it was not passed on to Scottish Power.

“They won’t talk to us about it as we are not the account holders and we have no idea when the bill will be paid.

“I am so angry about it all as we are the innocent party and we are suffering.”

Livingston MSP Angela Constance has also joined a growing number of Livingston FC supporters calling on the present board to sort out the chaotic financial situation at the club, or sell it on to someone who will.

She said: “With the threat of administration looming, due to the club’s failure to pay an increasingly long list of debtors, amongst them West Lothian Council, the future of senior football in West Lothian is in jeopardy.

“I urge the board of Livingston FC to address this serious situation as a matter of urgency. If they cannot resolve their difficulties, then they should allow someone who will, to do so now.”