Yet another example of the boom and bust when a ‘sugardaddy’ withdraws his support;
Gretna given lunchtime deadline
Gretna might be out of business before the weekend
Gretna could be closed if they cannot raise £30,000 needed by lunchtime on Thursday to play Saturday’s Scottish Premier League match at Aberdeen.
The ailing club are in the hands of administrator David Elliot.
He said: "We need emergency funding for wages, an overnight stay and transport. At the moment I don’t have it.
“If I can’t see that the players can be paid their wages then I would have to stop. I cannot allow the position to get worse.”
The SPL is unwilling to release a cash advance, unless Gretna can prove to be a viable proposition, having already loaned them end-of-season prize money.
Elliot said that there was now a ceiling of £100,000 available from the league.
He revealed that players had not been paid this week and the Inland Revenue had been pursuing a £350,000 debt.
Elliot also said two former managers were seeking payments of £800,000 and £100,000, while the club are in arrears with ground-sharing payments to Motherwell.
Backer Brooks Mileson has withdrawn his financial support after a bout of illness and Gretna simply cannot go on with their current wage bill and small crowds.
“Gretna are a loss-making club that has only been able to continue due to the efforts of a benefactor,” said Elliot.
"Even if I were able to find a satisfactory exit route with regards the present debt, the club, as things stand, is not viable.
“I cannot reconcile my mind to allow people to play when there’s no money for wages.”
Gretna will be docked 10 points for going into administration but creditors won’t be able to pursue legal action for the money they are owed.
The revised points tally for the league’s bottom club is just six and relegation is almost certain, with 11th-placed St Mirren 21 points better off.
Gretna reduced their squad in January, selling, loaning out and releasing a number players, while bringing in a host of youngsters on loan from England.
But, even if the club are to survive, more players are sure to be seeking new employers now that Elliot of Sheffield-based recovery and insolvency specialists Wilson Field Limited has been appointed.
We relied on one man; on his health and his wealth
Only eight players on the books at Gretna have contracts that run beyond the end of this season.
Gretna were admitted to the senior ranks of Scottish football in 2002, taking advantage of the demise of Airdrieonians.
And, with Mileson’s backing, the club rapidly rose through the divisions, culminating with last year’s promotion to the top flight.
Graeme Muir has resigned his post as chief executive but said he had no regrets about the Gretna adventure.
“It’s been a great experience,” he told BBC Sport. "And I have a lot of respect for Brooks Mileson.
"Things don’t last forever and the history books will show the success he had.
"We relied on one man; on his health and his wealth.
"We tried to adopt a more common sense approach this season and probably halved the payroll but, unfortunately, it was too late.
“I sincerely hope the community of Gretna can keep its football club, wherever they end up playing.”