Livingston interim manager Donald McGruther has accused chairman Angelo Massone of failing to appreciate the club face extinction if he refuses to walk away.

The Irn-Bru First Division side look set to be wound up after Massone indicated on Monday he would reject an offer of £25,000 to stand aside and let new owners take control.

McGruther, who was appointed by the Court of Session on Friday after West Lothian Council took legal action to reclaim a £330,000 debt, gave Massone until noon Wednesday to accept the pay-off in return for his controlling interest - or else see the club put into liquidation.

McGruther, whose appointment was a prelude to administration, claimed Massone was the prime obstacle to a successful sale of the "hopelessly insolvent" club.

Asked if Massone was "showboating" and will transfer his shares before the deadline, McGruther told BBC Radio Scotland: "I do get the impression that there's a cultural difference, that Mr Massone has spent the last year being approached by people who want to buy his shares and can't quite get his mind around the fact that this is now part of a legal process which has a conclusion to it - a nasty conclusion to it - as far as the club is concerned."

He added: "This could inadvertently lead to the club's demise - I can't believe that Mr Massone would do this deliberately."

McGruther attended a meeting of the 'Livvy for Life' supporters group last night and said they were "totally disappointed" by the situation.

"They do understand that, without this transfer, there's no way the club can be rescued," he added.

McGruther has spoken to several parties interested in Livingston, including ex-Cowdenbeath chairman Gordon McDougall.

Asked if McDougall was the club's only hope of survival, McGruther said: "No, there are others, but basically they're going to have to move so fast its untrue, because the next stage of the process is to go to the SFL (Scottish Football League)."