Neil Rankine insists he is the man to convince Angelo Massone to walk away from Livingston after helping haul the debt-ridden club back from the brink of extinction.

Former Dumbarton chairman Rankine and ex-Cowdenbeath owner Gordon McDougall head a consortium which was on Thursday given the green light to keep the Irn-Bru First Division side afloat. Livi looked doomed after controversial chairman Massone refused a £25,000 offer for his shares from interim manager Donald McGruther, of administrator Mazars.

"I think one of the greatest things Mr Massone wants is to walk away with a bit of dignity, rather than be run out of town tarred and feathered," said Rankine.

"I've had more contact with Mr Massone in the last three weeks, probably, than anybody else in the last year because he's such a strange character," he added.

"I've tried to reason with him, I've gone and put my arm around his shoulder."

A three-hour meeting with the SFL's management committee saw a rescue package finally agreed.

The new consortium, which includes former Livi director Ged Nixon - currently head of supporters' group 'Livi for Life' - believe Massone can finally be convinced to sell his stake.