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“Finally we have the news which the fans, players, staff and everyone at the club have been waiting for,” commented Lionheart chairman Pearse Flynn, who led the consortium’s successful bid for Livingston.
“This has been an extraordinary year, difficult for everyone, but a year which has proved Livingston’s resilience and our determination to see the deal through. When Lionheart offered to manage the club and associated businesses while the administrator finished his job, we were convinced that it would be worth it to stick with Livingston as a club with great fans and a great future.”
The chairman paid tribute to the hard work of everyone at the club, and thanked the administrator, Fraser Gray, the various football authorities including the SPL and SFA, and “many others who have assisted us to achieve our goal”.
Already, the club’s main sponsor – Intelligent Finance – has confirmed that it will extend its deal to cover next season as a vote of confidence in Livingston, which has been managed under contract by Lionheart since last summer.
Welcoming the latest announcement, Nick Robinson, Managing Director of Intelligent Finance, said: "Over the past four years we've formed a strong partnership with Livingston FC and I am delighted to extend our sponsorship which underlines our continuing commitment as the club moves forward under new ownership.
"As a major employer in the town we look forward to working closely with Lionheart and ensuring our sponsorship brings real benefits to the club and to the wider community in West Lothian "
The club is launching a special commemorative 10th anniversary shirt, and it will bear the Intelligent Finance logo as part of the extended deal.
Vivien Kyles, Lionheart chief executive, commented: “We want to radically improve the entertainment value at Almondvale, before during and after home games. We believe Livingston will continue to attract new supporters and grow its business – both on and off the field.
“After many months, this is the moment we have all been waiting for and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their enthusiasm, their help and their patience.
“We expect to be making new and positive announcements about our plans for Livingston in the near future, and we just can’t wait to get on with running the club now that administration has been lifted from Almondvale at last.”