Massone fails to meet deadline

LIVINGSTON chairman Angelo Massone has less than two weeks to pay West Lothian Council’s £280,000 rent bill or will have the club taken out of his hands.

The local authority has confirmed the controversial Italian failed to meet the midnight deadline on Tuesday for settling the debt and have started legal proceedings.

Sheriff officers arrived at Almondvale yesterday to serve notice of the council’s decision to take the matter to the law courts. The matter is due to be discussed at the court of session in Edinburgh later this month as Massone has 14 days from Livingston being notified of the legal action to resolve the long-standing issue.

A West Lothian council spokesperson said: “Several months ago we agreed a deadline of June 30 with the club’s owners, by which we asked them to provide evidence they can meet all outstanding obligations to the council.

“Unfortunately, the club’s owners have failed to satisfy the terms of this agreement and we have reluctantly started formal legal procedures.

“We have been flexible, patient and reasonable, with regards to the club’s plight, and have given the club’s owners ample opportunity to settle the outstanding issues.

“Supporters can be assured we have made numerous attempts to work with the club’s owners at every stage of the process to help avoid this action.”