The fate of Livingston is set to be decided by the Scottish Football League after administrators began making staff redundant on Wednesday.

Chairman Angelo Massone failed to meet a noon deadline to accept £25,000 for his controlling interest or see the club go bust.

The controversial Italian snubbed the ultimatum from interim manager Donald McGruther - from administrator Mazars - who was appointed by the Court of Session on Friday after West Lothian Council took legal action to reclaim a £330,000 debt.

Massone claims his lawyer advised him not to accept the offer made to him by McGruther, who insisted he would wind up the "hopelessly insolvent" club unless the Italian relented.

McGruther started making staff redundant on Wednesday afternoon but the playing squad and the majority of the key personnel will not lose their jobs until he meets with the Scottish Football League on Thursday.

It appears they will have the final say as to whether Livingston go under, but McGruther insisted any reprieve would involve the SFL breaking their own rules.

He admitted Massone still had time to limit the damage but only if the Italian agreed to walk away.

"That's crucial and, without that - or an absolute revolution in the rules of the SFL - Livingston are out of business." McGruther told BBC Scotland.

Explaining the job losses, he added: "There have been some redundancies today, mainly because we have no money to pay anyone and they might as well be receiving money from the government than receiving none from me.

"But the main redundancies, which will be the entire team and virtually all the staff, will be after the SFL decision on Thursday."