Irishman wins Livingston takeover battle

IRISH businessman Pearse Flynn has won the battle to take over Scottish League Cup champions Livingston. The club has been in administration since February with debts of £7m.

Flynn’s Lionheart consortium was chosen ahead of several other bidders, but still has to beat a May 31 deadline if the club is not to face a 10-point penalty for the next Premier League season.

It will be necessary to finalise the Company Voluntary Arrangement for that proposal to be approved by creditors, for shareholders to transfer their shares in the club to the new owners and for the position regarding the stadium’s lease to be resolved.