Provisional liquidators called in to Scottish First Division strugglers Airdrie have expressed hope that the club can be saved.

They have voiced confidence that a backroom shake-up would allow new investment to come into the club.

The Diamonds have called an extraordinary general meeting to discuss a change of constitution which could ensure its survival.

Up until now, no Airdrie shareholder has been allowed to own more than 10% of the shares - a matter which has been scheduled for discussion at Monday's meeting.

Blair Nimmo, head of KPMG Corporate Recovery in Scotland, has been appointed as the club's provisional liquidator and expressed optimism for the future.

He said: "While the liquidation is a serious matter for the club, I would like to stress our focus will be on creating a firm foundation for the future development of Airdrie FC.

"The club has first class facilities and is an important institution within Scottish football - it just needs new investment.

"Hopefully a new constitution will be the catalyst which enables the introduction of new investors with the funds, and the ideas, to take the club forward."

'Business as usual'

In the meantime, Mr Nimmo said it would be "business as usual" at the Lanarkshire club, currently lying at second bottom in the First Division.

Airdrie's problems worsened when it was revealed that Rangers had arrested the club's share of the gate receipts for Sunday's Scottish Cup tie at Dundee United.

Ibrox chairman David Murray applied for an interdict, on behalf of his company Carnegie, for a debt of around £30,000 owed by Airdrie.

Mr Murray said: "I feel very sorry for Airdrie and their supporters but we're running a business. We have given them repeated warnings and felt they were playing on our good nature."

The Scottish Football Association described the move as "a private matter between the clubs" and made clear there had been no contact with either party.

Airdrie were at the centre of recent takeover speculation amid reports that Motherwell chairman John Boyle wanted to acquire the Diamonds and create a bigger Lanarkshire club.