Livingston on the brink of Administration as Massone faces hit and run charges

Livingston are facing the grim possibility of entering adminstration for the secodn time in their history, with West Lothian council threatening legal proceedings to recover £280,000 of rent for Almondvale stadium that is outstanding. If the present regime does go to the wall, the fans group Livi for Life Trust are hopefuly of taking control. But club owner Angelo Massone is still denying that Livingston face administration and says he is still in talks with the council to buy the ground.

Livingston currently owe around £130,000 in rent arrears and face a demand for £150,000 for their latest rental agreement, due to be paid this month. And a senior could source told BBC Scotland, “30 June is the absolute deadline.”

The same source added “The plug could be pulled earlier”, depending on the evidence of the club’s financial state. It is thought that such evidence could include failure to pay wages to players on time, an accusation that has dogged Livingston all season and has led the Scottish Football League to threaten the club with relegation to Division Three. If the club pay the outstanding rent, the council would be prepared to cut the present annual rental by two-thirds, to £50,000. The council is also prepared to sell Almondvale to the current owners but on condition that the stadium is used only for professional football.

It would also allow the stadium to be sold and split the profits with the club from the sale - but only if a new stadium was in place by the time of the sale of the current ground.

West Lothian Council is keen to retain professional football in the town. But, asked whether the present owners could maintain the club as a going concern, the senior council source said, “Personally, I don’t think they are financially credible and the 30 June is the line drawn in the sand.”

Asked whether the club faced administration if they did not pay the outstanding money, Livingston owner Angelo Massone, said, “It is not true. 30 June is the day the option to buy the stadium expires. People are trying to cause problems. You are wasting your time on stories of Livingston FC. I have the option to buy the stadium by 30 June. It is in the hands of my lawyer and he is speaking to the council lawyers.”

However, Livi for Life Trust is waiting in the wings should the club go into administration. A council source said, “We would look kindly on the football trust move for the club. We would be willing to reassess the cost of the stadium. We would look favourably on it.”

Trust spokesman Ged Nixon said, “The current downward spiral of the club causes us grave concern. We are monitoring the situation and are ready to offer the club a lifeline if required. We have spoken to Supporters Direct, who advise supporters trusts and taken advice from them on the matter.”

Livingston have survived administration once before, having been plunged into financial difficulties in February 2004.

Meanwhile things are going from bad to worse for Livingston chairman Angelo Massone who has been charged with failing to stop after a road accident in Edinburgh. The Italian supremo was not present in court when the case was called at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday and has yet to make a plea. His solicitor, Richard Soutar, asked for the case to be continued for three weeks. The alleged incident took place on 29 November at Henderson Row.

The charge claims Mr Massone was the driver of a car which collided with and damaged another car but he failed to stop and give his name and address. A further charge alleges he failed to report the accident to police within 24 hours.

Mr Massone, is also due to stand trial later this year accused of being drunk in charge of a car in Edinburgh’s Bonnington Road on the same date.