Livingston expect to find out next month what sanctions they will face after being found guilty of breaching SFA rules over shareholder Neil Rankine’s dual interest in East Fife.
The Championship club have been told that breaches of four SFA rules in relation to Mr Rankine’s association with the Methil club had been established following lengthy investigations, with the SFA’s disciplinary panel due to discuss the situation at a further hearing on Friday, February 13 – pending further submissions from the West Lothian club.
Livi were charged with “failing to act towards the SFA with the utmost good faith” by not disclosing that Mr Rankine holds interests in East Fife through a relationship with the club’s current owners, and also providing “false, misleading and/or inaccurate information” in respect of the former Dumbarton chairman’s eligibility as a fit and proper person again in relation to Mr Rankine’s alleged links to East Fife.
They were also charged under Rule 21, which suggests that Livingston “holds power to influence the management or administration” of East Fife by holding interests in the club, and under Rule 86 which states that Livingston did not act in the best interests of the game by failing to disclose Mr Rankine’s interests in East Fife.
A previous charge relating to a £200,000 loan to Dumbarton was dropped late last year.
No action has been taken against East Fife, who have denied suggestions that Mr Rankine holds any sway over decision-making at Bayview.