Livingston Resign Defender Gallacher Pending Appeal

Livingston have re-signed Declan Gallagher pending his appeal against a three-year jail sentence for assault.

Gallagher was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff last month after being found guilty of fracturing a man's skull with a baseball bat during a fight outside a pub in Blantyre.

But the 24-year-old defender will continue playing for the Ladbrokes Championship side until his appeal is decided.

Livingston, who this week announced that main sponsor Energy Assets had ended its relationship with the club a year early, said in a statement: The verdict of the Appeal Court will be a significant factor in the long term future of the player with the club.

At this stage the High Court of Justiciary has considered it appropriate that he be granted his liberty pending the outcome of the appeal.

We are of the view that whilst he is on bail he should be provided with the opportunity to earn a living and to support his family whilst he continues with the fight to clear his name.

We appreciate that in this process there are many victims, including Declan, and that not everyone will be comfortable with the approach adopted by the club.

"The club, however, is not in a position to make judgement.

Livingston FC hopes that fans and sponsors will recognise and appreciate the pproach we have adopted and allow the judicial process to take its course.''