TROUBLED Livingston were yesterday hit by a signing ban but boss John McGlynn has vowed to cope.
The SPFL have told the Championship club they can’t register any more players after volunteering details of an undeclared bonus scheme from season 2010-11.
Livi’s board have confessed that up to £30,500 was paid out by the previous regime without being subject to tax or National Insurance.
The ban comes just days after the Almondvale club were hit with a notice of complaint from the SFA due to apparent breaches of five disciplinary rules surrounding the shareholding of Neil Rankine, who it is claimed also holds “interests” in East Fife and Dumbarton.
But McGlynn, who had to cope with signing restrictions while in charge of Hearts, said: “I’ve been through this before – I’ve been there and got the T-shirt.
“I’m not worried. I’m happy with my squad of 22 anyway.”
It’s claimed the undeclared bonuses were paid by former CEO Ged Nixon who is suing the club for £310,000 in loan repayments following an acrimonious split.
The issue came to light after a member of the board, understood to be vice-chairman Robert Wilson, wrote to both the SFA and the SPFL to volunteer evidence.
Shareholder Rankine thinks that if Nixon wins the court case next March, Livi – said to be around £1.75million in debt – could go into administration for a third time.
A spokesman for the SPFL said: “If there is a default in relation to HMRC payments, an embargo on player registration is automatic.”