By Jim Spence

Longmuir met Massone to discuss the payment of Livi players' wages

Some Livingston players have still not been paid wages for April, despite assurances given by the club to the Scottish Football League.

Club chairman Angelo Massone on Thursday met SFL officials who had sought assurances over wages payments.

And SFL chief executive David Longmuir told BBC Scotland that the situation would be closely monitored in future.

But one Livingston player has revealed that at least six of squad have not yet been paid their wages for last month.

The players should have been paid on 30 April and it is not the first time that Livingston have been late with payments of wages.

Businesses have also sought court action to recover outstanding debts.

And, after his meeting with Massone, Longmuir said: "The SFL made it quite clear that Livingston must stick to their contractual obligations of paying wages on time - and we were given that," said Longmuir.

"I think next season will be fantastic without this problem. We will concentrate on the football side and it will be sorted Livingston chairman Angelo Massone

"They were given the opportunity to reassure us that players' wages were top priority and had to be paid on time.

"Mr Massone agreed to that and we will monitor the situation over the coming months to see that players are paid on time and in full."

Asked what sanctions could be applied if the assurances were not met by the club, Longmuir said: "We have enough rules to impose some kind of sanction.

"That is not the way we are trying to go with this. It's just that, with all Livingston's other obligations, players' wages must come first.

"Our remit is to protect the integrity of players contracts. That is the only remit we have.

"We have no role to play in other matters. The club are still playing games and fielding teams.

"Our main objective in meeting Mr Massone was to make clear that contractual obligations must be met."

Massone has consistently insisted that the First Division club is not in serious financial trouble.

And, responding to the latest claims, the head of the Italian consortium that owns the club said: "I will speak with the SFL and my players about this, but I don't want to speak to the press. I have said i will not speak to the press again about wages."

He had said earlier of his meeting with the league: "I am happy that we have spoken openly about what is happening at Livingston.

"I think next season will be fantastic without this problem. We will concentrate on the football side and it will be sorted.

"The situation is definitely better in regard to my takeover on 3 June. Everything is good at this moment, definitely, yes, I will be there again next season."

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