The future of Livingston was back in doubt after the Scottish Football League relegated them to the Irn-Bru Third Division.

The decision was made following a meeting of the SFL's management committee at Hampden at which the debt-ridden club were found to be in breach of the league's insolvency rules.

This is the latest twist in what has been a traumatic few weeks for the West Lothian club, who appeared to have been hauled back from the brink of extinction less than a week ago when 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 they today elected to follow the precedent set when Gretna went into administration a year ago.

An SFL statement read: "At a meeting of the league management committee, Livingston Football Club were found to be in breach of rule 76.2 relating to insolvency.

"The sanction imposed was to place Livingston Football Club in the Third Division for season 2009-10.

"We believe a Third Division placement offers Livingston Football Club the chance of continuing their membership of the SFL."

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

The club has the right to appeal the decision in the next 10 days and with the league due to kick-off this weekend, that would almost certainly lead to the postponement of Livingston's, Airdrie's and Cowdenbeath's opening-day fixtures.