Exclusive: New Livingston owner John McIlvogue discusses his plans for the club

Livingston Football Club announced last month that John McIlvogue had become the club’s new majority shareholder.

The Glasgow businessman boasts a portfolio that includes Mortons Rolls after rescuing that company earlier this year and has now taken steps into football after acquiring a ‘significant’ number of shares in West Lothian’s sole full-time professional team.

In an exclusive interview with the West Lothian Courier, McIlvogue discusses how the move came about and his hopes and plans for the club - both on and off the park.

He said: "I spoke to the chairman John Ward about the club. I don’t think it’s any secret the problems that it’s had with previous shareholders and such like.

"I think Livingston as a club have been the underdogs of the SPFL Premiership for six years and who doesn’t like an underdog? When I came in and spoke to John and other shareholders, I thought I could really, really make a difference and then further down the line from a commercial point of view, bring in further investment into the club and really try to get the club moving forward.

"That was my initial idea, but also we have a 10,000 seater arena here in the town. Let’s get the community more involved. Let’s start using it. Let’s start using it for events during the summer. There’s loads of potential to do stuff in Livingston.

"From a commercial point of view, it’s about exploring how can this football club make more money? With myself and my business contacts that’s something that we’ll be looking at - how to get further investment into the club."

Livingston fans have every right to be wary, of course, given previous ownership failings and twice having seen their team enter administration. McIlvogue says he gives the fans his