Vivian Kyles, the chief executive of Livingston, last night accused Dundee of "clutching at straws" to avoid relegation after the row between the clubs overshadowed the unveiling of Paul Lambert at Almondvale.
Dundee want the Scottish Premier League to dock points from the West Lothian team. They claim Livingston illegally paid money to Hassan Kachloul, a player they signed as an amateur in March. Kachloul and Kyles deny the allegation but if the protest is upheld, Livingston could be relegated instead of Dundee.
Lambert faces an uncertain few days to discover the outcome of the protest. The SPL are expected to confirm officially today that they will be investigating the matter.
Kyles had hoped the spotlight yesterday would be on the capture of Lambert as their new manager on a three-year deal. Instead, her role in the Kachloul saga came into sharp focus as she defended her club.
She attacked both Dundee officials, for lodging the complaint, and John Yorkston, the Dunfermline chairman who first raised the issue with the SPL in May. She suggested that, when a club is relegated, there was usually a protest of some kind to try to keep them up.
"It seems the last club to go graciously to the first division was Hibs," said Kyles. "I have every sympathy with any club which drops from the top flight and had been working on first- division figures for next season."
Kyles said that, as well as "clutching at straws", she believed Dundee had made the protest because there was an element of "sour grapes" that they, rather than Livingston, were relegated after the pair met on the final day of the season. Livingston drew that day with a goal made by Kachloul and the point kept them up.
"Livingston football club is greatly disturbed at the ridiculous allegations regarding our signing of Kachloul as an amateur player late last season," said Kyles. "Kachloul's contract and registration was completed in consultation with the SPL, who were very helpful at the time. We will be urging them to settle this matter as swiftly as possible."
Dundee claim Kachloul was paid £4000 a week as a "business development manager" at the club. Kyles refused to confirm or deny that, claiming Livingston's accounts would be made available to the SPL board, if they required them.
"We have nothing to hide," said Kyles. "I never bend the rules or break the rules, and don't like what is being implied."
A Dundee spokesman said last night: "We are not accusing Livingston of anything. However, central questions as to whether he's been paid any money by Livingston have not been answered.
"It is that question that has to be answered and which Livingston should be obliged to answer."
Lambert refused to comment on the matter, pointing out that he had agreed to become Livingston manager long before the relegation issue had been settled.
Although he has no previous managerial experience, the former Scotland and Celtic captain studied for his UEFA Pro License over seven months on the highly-respected course run by the German FA.
Lambert passed every one of his exams with flying colours, despite sitting all of them in German.
"Being manager of Livingston is very different from being a player and is very exciting," said Lambert, who will be assisted by former St Mirren team-mate, Norrie McWhirter. "I have learned off some really good people during my career and they were a big, big help for me, and I'll take bits of what I have learned from them into management.
"I am not nervous whatsoever because this is a great set-up here. Staying in the league was a massive achievement, considering Livingston had not long been out of administration and they looked to be struggling around Christmas.
"I never thought about being a player-coach at Livingston, as being a manager is hard enough, and I want to concentrate all my energies on that."