Livingston will ask the Scottish Football Association to overturn their relegation to the Irn-Bru Third Division after today's appeal to their fellow Scottish Football League clubs was rejected.

The West Lothian club lost a verdict against the loss of their First Division status by 16 votes to 10 at a special general meeting at Hampden this afternoon.

Livi, who were punished for breaking the SFL's insolvency rules following a court's decision to appoint an interim manager to take control of their finances, have exercised their right to take their case to the SFA.

In a statement on their official website, www.livingstonfc.co.uk, the club said: "Following the rejection of the appeal to the Scottish Football League today - and to avoid any unnecessary delay - the club has this afternoon instructed its solicitors to intimate to the solicitors of the SFL that it wishes to appeal to the Scottish Football Association.

"This has been agreed by the board in the interest of causing the least possible disruption to fixtures."

The SFL clubs' decision to reject an appeal had appeared to ratify promotion for Airdrie and Cowdenbeath - who were excluded from the vote along with Livi and associate members Annan.