Crisis-club Livingston refuse to play

Crisis-hit Livingston have plunged the Scottish League into chaos by refusing to play Saturday’s third division match with East Stirling in protest at their demotion from the first division.

The Scottish Football League (SFL) relegated Livingston on Wednesday for breaching the league’s insolvency rules, but the club decided on Friday to appeal the sanction.

As a result, Livingston said they will not play a third division fixture until their case is heard.

An appeal was expected to also see a postponement of the matches involving Airdrie United and Cowdenbeath, who had been promoted to the first and second Divisions, respectively, as a result of Livingston’s relegation.

Instead, the SFL announced on Friday morning that Ross County v Airdrie, Cowdenbeath v Arbroath and East Stirling v Livingston would all go ahead but the results would be void if Livingston’s appeal proved successful.

Livingston’s interim manager Donald McGruther told BBC Scotland: “For us to play a Third Division club without prejudice is just ludicrous.”

McGruther insists that, until their appeal is heard, he considers Livingston a First Division club.

“I can’t understand where the league is coming from,” he said. “We offered to play Ross County as we have appealed the SFL’s demotion decision, but that offer was turned down.”