Cash-strapped Livingston relegated over financial woes

Beleaguered Scottish club Livingston suffered another blow on Wednesday after the Scottish Football League (SFL) relegated them to the Third Division.

The decision was made following a meeting of the SFL’s management committee at Hampden Park at which the debt-ridden outfit were found to be in breach of the league’s insolvency rules.

Livingston appeared to have been hauled back from the brink of extinction less than a week ago when the SFL gave the green light to a takeover led by former Cowdenbeath owner Gordon McDougall and ex-Dumbarton chairman Neil Rankine, but now their future looks uncertain again.

An SFL statement read: “At a meeting today (Wednesday) of the league management committee, Livingston Football Club were found to be in breach of rule 76.2 relating to insolvency.

“The sanction imposed was to place Livingston Football Club in the Third Division for season 2009-10.

“We believe a Third Division placement offers Livingston Football Club the chance of continuing their membership of the SFL.”

Livingston’s relegation has led to Airdrie United and Cowdenbeath being promoted from the Second and Third Divisions, respectively.