MB

I'm afraid it's only just beginning! I'm really pleased for you both. Good luck.

Shep is a sad loss. A good umpire, but above all else a great gentleman of cricket. I always think of him on 'Nelson'.

Good luck Seamus. I hope there is continued progress and he goes home soon. My little one had the dreaded needle for the first time today and he has not been his usual self tonight. Hopefully, he'll calm down now he has just had his bath.

It didn't take you long to dip your toe back into the water, so to speak. Brilliant news - yet another Doonhamer. Hope all goes well; I'm sure you'll keep us posted.

That's the crux of the matter. East Stirlingshire should not be out of pocket whatever happens. Livi should pay them compensation for scratching the original fixture and face a points deduction into the bargain.

A photograph from today, with his new hat:

We're both fine, though it's not easy coping without too much sleep and holding down a full time job. Mrs MB is doing well and is a great mum. He isn't a Junior Blue; I think we'll wait until next season for that. I don't suppose Thomas has been to a game yet?

Oliver is now 29 days old; this picture was taken a few days ago:

Wright is worth his place in the ODI squad, but he's never test class. Rashid, on the other hand, has the potential to be very special indeed.

Well done G Man. My little boy, Oliver, is now 22 days old and he has changed so much in such a short period of time.

Thanks to all for the congragulatory methods. Mrs MB and baby Oliver are both fine, and should be returning home tomorrow. Another Queens fan has entered the world and no doubt he will be needing his Junior Blue season ticket at some point, but I think we'll wait until at least next season. Here are a couple of photographs. The first was taken only three or four hours after his birth and the second 24 hours later. Since these photos were taken, he's had a bath and looks much better. It's a great feeling and I can't wait to get mummy and baby home.

Thanks for the good luck messages. Baby Oliver arrived today at 2.54pm after 21 hours in labour and some scary moments. Mrs MB had a c-section in the end, and I'm just about to nip back to the hospital to see how they're both doing. Oliver weighed in at 9lbs! I haven't slept since Monday night, but it's been worth it in the end. Pictures will follow! Good luck once again to G Man. Trust me, it's the most amazing experience in the world.

We know the feeling. We're now nearly a week overdue, but it looks as if the contractions have started. This may be my last post for a while.

I have yet to hear a satisfactory explanation for the about turn. I think most people are really fed up with this all now, and I expect the SFL will treat Livi quite leniently for scratching the Shire fixture. I'm glad you have a game to go to today, but I hope you get stuffed.

So it has nothing to do with what is in the best interests of the game. The official statement on the Livi website (here) mentions that the any matches played during the appeal process will be provisional pending the outcome of the SFA's decision. What on earth has changed from last week?

But that was the situation last weekend as well. Scratching the fixture against East Stirlingshire was not 'conducive to the better interests of the game.' Don't forget how late in the day they left it to call off the game. They're up to something here and it wouldn't surprise me if Livi have been given a 'nod and a wink' that they will face a lenient punishment for last week's no show if they play the rest of their fixtures. There is only self-interest at stake here.

That thought immediately sprung to my mind as well. Home fixture = much needed revenue. Anyway, it has been confirmed now. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ton/8199728.stm

Breaking news - Livi will play Montrose tomorrow.

It is now official; Livi will appeal to the SFA. http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/news_130809_3.php

The relevant press conferences are now online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ton/8199728.stm Having said, "We have never had any fears about playing in the third division", what on earth was the first division business plan all about? I think we all know that Livi's blackmail backfired quite spectacularly. It also appears that Livingston will appeal to the SFA and scratch another fixture this weekend. I wonder when they're thinking of officially announcing their decision on the appeal and whether they will fulfil their fixture against Montrose. I guess the idea will be to cause as much chaos as possible. It is time for this moribund football club to be consigned to the scrapheap of history.

Given the SFL''s statement, where are some people getting the idea that Livi's scheduled game this Saturday against Montrose has been postponed?

Whilst I agree with the sentiment that the rules should be clear and unambiguous, there is still an argument that each case should be judged on its merits. In Livingston's case, this was not their first foray into administration and the SFL remained unconvinced (despite the infamous first division business plan) that the club could fulfil all 36 fixtures in the first division. However, there should certainly be stipulated minimum and maximum penalties for such misdemeanours. There are a few too many Livi symphathisers quick to jump on the anti-SFL bandwagon. Too many people seem to be forgetting that Livi only have themsleves to blame for being in this situation and have exacerbated it by their disgraceful no-show last weekend. Some contrition from Livi5 would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. I fully expect the circus to roll on a little bit longer after today. This thread will enable more people to talk pish for quite some time yet, I'd expect. I assume we cannot realistically expect any statements from the SFL until at least 4-5pm?

Should we rename you comical Ali? The SFL have rules and never stated Livi would be in the first division. That decision was dependent on assurances that the club could fulfil fixtures. Those assurances were not given. Longmuir stated: "Nothing had really changed, just the fact we had given Livingston as much time as possible to come up with a plan. Certain aspects of the plan came to fruition, certain aspects didn't." Quite apart from the blatant attempts at blackmail to present the business plan as only applicable to the first division, it is Livi that has got itself into this mess (again!). It now appears there is a third division business plan as well. What a farce. On top of that to fail to fulfil a fixture, announcing the decsion to scratch late on the Friday afternoon, means the club deserve whatever punishment is coming their way. You are one deluded individual. I almost feel sorry for you.

I'd go along with that, but I have a suspicion that it'll be a bit lighter. Will the consortium hang around if they think they'll be stuck in the third division for at least two seasons?

Don't we all. I need to get some work done and stop catching up with this bloody thread.