unthinkable

Craig Barr said in an interview a few weeks ago that it was almost certain he would leave. Thinks his preference is part-time also due to starting up a business.

Rudy Pussyfanny looked more like a spin bowler than a goalkepeer, used to hang in the air forever when coming for crosses, totally and utterley useless.

The last time it was played as a warm up we played the Shipyard and they kicked off us the park and we had 3 or 4 players out injured for the opening league game, so Jimmy Nic decided to knock it on the head.

There is no need to go totally full-time, the difference in training is probably around 6-8 hours at most, two of our top performers are part-timers in Davie McGurn and Mark Campbell. Financially it might not be that far out of our reach, but a part-time/full-time hybrid allows flexibility and opens up an extra market when looking for players. Having a committed manager like McGlynn is key to this though, someone willing to work the hours to satisfy both camps.

The SFL have it in the rules that they can punish clubs however they see fit if a club enters into administration/liquidation process. Livi appealed to the SFA that they punishment dished out by the SFL was severe. How could the SFA come to any other conclusion that the SFL had not acted improper. Clubs with a direct vested interest were barred from voting, again providing a fair hearing. I cannot believe that any Livi fan truly thought that it would be overturned and there appeal would be up-held. The fact that Livi are still paying full-time players first division wages prove that they are still living in cloud cuckoo land, fantasy football played out with money they do not have. Clyde could not afford to pay players so terminated thier contracts but Livi carry on like the band on the Titanic. A truly tragic and pathetically run club. Next crisis for them will not be far away in my opinion.

Yes but fumigating the stands afterwards cost us double what was brought in, you are right but those games were few and far between, two big games a season was the norm hence why we now have a full time/part time hybrid squad. The point is every club has to take it's medicine at some point and suffer before it gets better. Clubs like Livi and Gretna never understood this. Quotes like "relegation is not an option" or "we need to go up this year" were frequently spouted. Running a football club is not rocket science but some clubs budget to succeed only, and that is a dangerous game. The SPL was never a pot of gold and is even less so with Setanta going tits up.

Livi's debt is so great that it would be impossible, that is why MacDougall and Rankine were mumping about additional sanctions to the bond would cause them to re-consider investing. Having spent 5 seasons in the 2nd Div, Raith know fine well that there is no money to be made from the lower leagues. Where we got hit in the pocket was from the absence of away supporters. Only 2 bumper East Fife games last year brought us any real extra income and an atmosphere to boot. It would appear that Livi had a new business plan set-up for 1st Div only and maybe they showed that hand too early to the SFL.

Yes yes the league has a set sequence blah, blah but that rigid policy does kind of look laughable when they can promote/relegate clubs with less than three days notice. But nothing suprises me with Scottish Football anymore, if there is a difficult way of doing things we go that extra mile to acheive it.

Yup, the SFL somehow cannot accomodate Raith playing at home on the opening Saturday but can re-arrange three(possibly only two) teams full fixture list in 3 days. In all honesty I think Saturday's fixtures will go ahead with the possible exception of East Stirling having a free week.

At least the SFL get the money upfront, never can be too careful with Livi. I thought the League's lack of action followed by today's bombshell punishment was farcical, just wait to the appeal is lodged, full scale chaos will begin.

Had Livi done what Clyde had to do then you might still be a 1st Div team. The penny has finally dropped, if you cannot afford them dont sign them.

Unbef***inglieveable, Liv not paying bills and trading whilst insolvent had nothing to do with this then. Relegation to the third did not make Livi employees redundant, spending money you did not have landed them in it. It was the actions of Livi owners not the SFL consquences to those actions that are to blame.

I think it proved that that Rankine and MacDougall were not in it 100% for Livi's sake and that rankled the SFL a bit. Also I think there must have been some backlash from other clubs boardrooms in private to the SFL about Livi escaping without punishment. Right decision about a week too late, why could they not have served this action last week.

Livingston have a fantastic track record of paying what they owe, so let's just take them at face value and believe that if something happens we will all be compensated fairly.

From Scotsman last week, I did however misread the part about waving/deducting expenses, but only 108 fans actually paid. McGruther had appealed to the supporters to turn out yesterday at Palmerston Park for the Alba Cup match against Queen of the South. He had hoped that a good response from the fans would bring in a cash infusion, even after Queens deducted expenses and their 50 per cent share of the 1,558 gate in Dumfries. At kick-off in the club's first and last competitive match of the season yesterday, precisely 108 people sat in the area of the stadium reserved for the away support. Add a gaggle of directors and hangers-on and chairman Massone, and there were probably 130 fans of Livingston in Palmerston Park – a tenth of what was needed.

After a rallying call by McGruther for fans to turn up at Palmerston last week, as QoS had waved their expenses and with the gate actually being split 50-50, only 108 Livi fans turned up. At a time that was seen as a last chance saloon it showed to me just what little loyal supporters Livi actually have.

Probably scarily accurate and actually hits home just how ridiculous the situation has been handled.

The English Football League have set rules about administration and are not afraid to re-evaluate them instantly should clubs try bend them in their favour i.e Southampton. Decision's are made hours after the clubs declare administration. The SFL however take weeks to say anything then come up with half a decision. Livi can play in Div 1 but with further discussion about a penalty etc. Shambolic.

Watch for the Livi fans and new board mumping about vendettas should a penalty be imposed, Ten points minimum and transfer embargo for the SFL to try and salvage some credibility. Knowing the useless commitee it will be a suspended fine.

It was a question, hence the ? I was under the impression that Brown personally bankrolled some of Saints wages fund. St. Johnstone are not renowned for a massive fan base. If I am wrong then fair enough St. Johnstone must do really well from commercial activites.

Does Geoff Brown not pump hundreds of thousands of pounds into Saints wages fund each season? All though this seems like a well run club but, if like Dundee with Melville, Brown decides to end his association then St. J are left with contracts they cannot afford. Both on a smaller scale than Gretna but risky nonetheless.

Has McGruther spoken today and outlined just exactly what the situation is now that Massone refused to sell, have liquidation preceedings started yet because that would definitley mean expulsion from the SFL. Or has a new extended deadline been set.

It mentioned on STV that if Livi survived,it is expected that Gary Bollan and Brian Welsh (McDougall's son in law) will take over as a managment team, so pretty safe to assume.

From BBC website page last updated at 16:47 GMT, Monday, 27 July 2009 17:47 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version League prepares for Livi demise Livingston are in danger of going out of business this week Second Division Airdrie United and Cowdenbeath of the Third Division would be the beneficiaries if Livingston go bust before the season begins. BBC Scotland has learned that the Scottish Football League proposes to promote the two clubs, both of whom lost league play-offs last season. There would not be enough time to add to the nine teams in Division Three. Livi will go into liquidation unless owner Angelo Massone sells his shares for £25,000 by Wednesday lunchtime. The Court of Session appointed administrator Mazars on Friday, following a move by the local council to recover £330,000 from the West Lothian club. Livingston have been informed that they are in breach of the SFL rules regarding the potential disruption of the league programme. If they do survive the threat of liquidation, the SFL could opt to deduct points or fine the First Division club, relegate them to the Third Division or expel them from the league. Airdrie United finished second bottom of Division One in the last league campaign and were relegated when they lost the play-off final to Second Division Ayr United. Cowdenbeath were beaten by Stenhousemuir in a penalty shoot-out in the Division Two play-off final.

We should look after ourselves this time as we have sacrificed our Premier League status for the greater good of Scottish Football once before, and look where that got us and the rest of Scottish Football. No doubt our board will give it the old "turkeys voting for Christmas" routine again, then watch us get relegated.