follow.

The Scottish Football League also said the drastic move at least gives the club the chance to continue with their league membership following a series of problems.

They are due to face Montrose at home on Saturday although they may again choose to boycott that match which would then create further fixture chaos.

Livingston's saga has been a long running affair although there appeared to be a recent ray of light at the end of a dark tunnel for the Lions.

A consortium headed up by former director Ged Nixon, ex-Cowdenbeath owner Gordon McDougall and former Dumbarton chairman Neil Rankine launched a rescue package.

An administrator had been placed in charge of the club's affairs since the Court of Session stepped in after West Lothian Council lodged a petition for non paymentof rent for Almondvale Stadium.

Donald McGruther, who was placed in interim charge, believes the radical move could spell the end for the outfit which is why they launched their appeal.

McGruther had been appointed in the wake of legal moves to recover debts owed by the club and Italian owners headed up by Angelo Massone. He took charge at the end of June last year when Pearse Flynn decided to sell his shares. But the Italian consortium failed to pay West Lothian Council - the owners of the stadium. And the debt that Massone refused to pay sparked all the recent controversy.

After a tense struggle Massone finally sold his stake in the club for £50,000 to clear the way for McDougall and Rankine to stamp their mark on things.