Livingston were on Thursday deciding whether to appeal their relegation to the Irn-Bru Third Division, a punishment that has been branded "the death knell" for the club.

The future of the debt-ridden West Lothian outfit is back in doubt after the Scottish Football League found Livi to be in breach of their insolvency rules and stripped them of their First Division status.

Wednesday's news is the latest twist during what has been a traumatic few weeks for the club, who appeared to have been hauled back from the brink of extinction less than a week ago.

That was after the SFL gave the thumbs-up to a rescue package led by former Cowdenbeath owner Gordon McDougall and ex-Dumbarton chairman Neil Rankine.

However, the league warned Livi could still face a range of sanctions for commencing insolvency proceedings and on Wednesday they elected to follow the precedent set when Gretna went into administration a year ago.

The news was a huge blow to the club's hopes of survival, with the consortium looking to buy them having banked on First Division football.

Interim manager Donald McGruther, of administrators Mazars, said: "In my view, this represents the death knell of Livingston Football Club.

"Unless I'm extremely lucky and the consortium are prepared to take a view that they can survive in the Third Division playing out of Almondvale, I do not think it makes economic sense."

Livingston's relegation led to Airdrie United and Cowdenbeath being promoted from the Second and Third Divisions, respectively.

However, Livi do have the right of appeal and can do so in the next 10 days.