Livingston Football Club (LFC) has entered administration following a legal challenge by West Lothian Council (WLC) as part of attempts to recover more than £330,000 owed by the club.

Donald McGruther, of Edinburgh-based accountancy firm Mazars, has been appointed by Lord Glennie to oversee the running of the club after it failed to unpaid rent, buildings insurance and other debts relating to the council-owned Almondvale Stadium. McGruther, who was appointed interim manager by Lord Glennie at the Court in Session in Edinburgh on 24 July, previously negotiated a deal to save Falkirk Football Club from closure during the 1997-98 season.

The council said that administration was a necessary step for LFC in order to preserve the long-term future of the Scottish Division One club, which could now also face a points deduction as part of potential sanctions to be imposed by the Scottish Football League. WLC leader Peter Johnston said: "Given the current situation, we sincerely believe administration is the best way forward for the club. Our goal remains a secure future for senior football in West Lothian, and we will offer the administrator any assistance we can towards this goal.

"We see this as the first step to the club's recovery and re-establishing Livingston again on a sound and sustainable financial platform." It is the second time that LFC has entered administration since it formed 1995, when the club replaced Meadowbank Thistle.