Livingston on the brink after demotion decision

Aug 6 2009 By Eric Mackinnon

GED NIXON has insisted no decisions have been made yet on whether Livingston will appeal the decision to dump the club in the Third Division.

The Lions were demoted by hard-line SFL chiefs yesterday (Wednesday) for breaching insolvency rules.

But Nixon, who is part of the new consortium who have been working hard to save the club following the departure of controversial chairman Angelo Massone, has vowed they will take their time to consider all of their options.

As a result of the SFL’s demotion Airdrie United move up to the First Division to replace the West Lothian club with Cowdenbeath moving up to the Second Division from the Third.

Should Livingston appeal the decision then all games involving the trio of clubs would be postponed.

Interim manager Donald McGruther, of administrators Mazars, has admitted his concern for the club following the decision.

He said: "In my view, this represents the death knell of Livingston Football Club.

"Unless I'm extremely lucky and the consortium are prepared to take a view that they can survive in the Third Division playing out of Almondvale, I do not think it makes economic sense."

It has been a turbulent two weeks at Almondvale in which the club almost tumbled into football oblivion as Massone refused to relinquish control of the club.

But now the league’s decision to hammer the Lions could have pushed them back to the brink again.