Livingston Football Club (LFC) has failed in its bid to overturn the Scottish Football League's decision to demote the club two divisions for breaching the league's insolvency rules.

The West Lothian-based club was relegated to the Scottish League Division Three after being forced into administration in July by the local authority, which sought to recover more than £330,000 in unpaid rent and rates at the Almondvale Stadium. LFC refused to fulfil its opening Division Three fixture pending an appeal, but has since completed three fixtures and will remain in the competition after the Scottish Football Association's appeals sub-committee ruled in favour of the SFL.

The long-term future of the club, however, now appears to have been secured following a takeover by the 'Livingston 5' consortium, including former Cowdenbeath Football Club owner Gordon McDougall and former Dumbarton Football Club chair, Neil Rankine.