BBC SPORT | LIVINGSTON | Santini to leave Livi

French defender Didier Santini will leave Livingston after Sunday's final game of the season.

He is the first player to be confirmed as departing the club who have qualified for the Uefa Cup after their first season in the Scottish Premier League.

The West Lothian club this week agreed a new �250,000 shirt sponsorship deal with Intelligent Finance but admitted that the extra cash could not prevent financial cutbacks.

There are other cash incentives for success in competitions at home and abroad, but the first-team squad will still be reduced from 25 to around 20 to 22.

Didier Santini failed to agree new terms

Livingston have yet to confirm the futures of eight other players, including Rubio, Quino, Steve Tosh and David Bingham.

They will meet manager Jim Leishman after Sunday's match away to Hearts, when victory could clinch third spot for Livingston.

But the club have been unable to agree terms for next season with 33-year-old Santini and his agent and will leave unless there is an unexpected change in their stance.

Leishman said: "Didier is very much a part of the winning team we have had at Almondvale this season and we wish him all the very best should he move on."

The former Lille, Toulouse and Bastia defender turned down a move to Dundee in order to join Livingston in November and made 20 starts this season.


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