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Livingston owner Pearse Flynn is in talks to sell the First Division club in a £600,000 deal. East Lothian businessman Eddie Ramsay wants to turn Almondvale into one of Britain's leading greyhound racing venues. Ramsay has been keen to identify a new dog track site in the east of Scotland since the Edinburgh track closed in 1995. West Lothian Council are also involved in talks as they seek to secure the long-term future of the club and stadium. Ramsay plans to keep the football club at Almondvale. Modifying the ground for greyhound racing would mean extensive renovation to the side of the ground facing the Main Stand. It could even be demolished and re-built to include a wider range of corporate facilities for racegoers. However, Ramsay is committed to keeping the ground's capacity above 6000 to safeguard the possibility of hosting SPL football in future. Ramsay admitted, 'I know little about football and everything about greyhounds, which is why I'd focus on the racing side of the business.' There is a long history of association between football and greyhounds, not least at the old Wembley at one time, but also at the ill fated Thames. One problem is that it means fans are further away from the action. At Livingston the pitch may need to be moved several metres to accommodate a track around its perimeter.
Flynn confirmed the talks with Ramsay but claimed that three other parties are also interested in buying him out. He said, 'Call me a masochist but I enjoy my involvement with Livingston and someone would have to make it worth my while to go.' Flynn's Lionheart consortium finally won control of Livingston almost three years ago following a long legal battle but the club have failed to match the ambitions of their colourful owner. It's understood that he owes the council about £300,000 in rent and with other costs to take into account he would walk away with around £150,000 from the deal tabled by Ramsay.
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