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The survival of Scottish Premier League benefactor club Gretna is now in doubt. Just 501 spectators, a record SPL low, turned out to watch their latest defeat against Dundee United. Caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth stated, 'The finances and the survival of the club is on everyone's minds and that takes precedence. We are on a sticky wicket, put it that way.' Although the players have been played following a delay last month, no money is forthcoming from ill owner Brooks Mileson, who was discharged from hospital last month after being hit with a brain infection. Wadssworth could give no guarantees that Gretna could stay afloat until the end of the season. 'People have worked really hard to keep the thing going,' he said. 'I'm worried about the immediate future. Brooks is very ill, we have no direct contact with Brooks. If his illness is going to be long term then he has every right not to be worrying about a football club next season. What we do hope is that we can cobble it together to get through this season so there is a graceful withdrawal if necessary.' A meeting has been called involving financial advisers, club directors and probably representatives of the parent company.
Wadsworth argued that the SPL have let them down by forcing them to ground share so far away from their home. Another worry is that their failure to renovate their stadium at Raydale Park could rebound on them with the Scottish Football League prepared to demote them further if they fail to survive in the SPL, as is very likely. The damage done to the playing surface at Motherwell has created a backlog for both clubs and that, combined with the inaction at Raydale, means that the SPL will refuse to allow member clubs to groundshare in future. The SFL argues that Raydale isn't fit to host matches against visiting First Division clubs with a large away support such as Dundee, Partick Thistle and Morton. However, demoting Gretna further would present the SFL with difficult promotion and relegation questions. The Borders club had hoped that the Scottish Government would finance an eco-friendly stadium for them on the edge of town but that now appears unlikely.
UPDATE: Gretna Face Adminisration - 9/03/2008
Administrators Wilson Field spent five hours in talks at cash strapped Gretna yesterday. It seems likely that the club will go into administration on Monday or Tuesday. David Elliott from the administrators summed up the dilemma the club faces when he commented, 'One of the concerns is how the company finances itself in the absence of Mr Mileson.' Owner Brooks Mileson is £370,000 overdrawn and two of his firms face being struck off. A third company with Mileson as director went bust last month. If the companies are struck off, the assets and any cash can be confiscated. Mileson is a director of 19 firms, has resigned from a further 32 and has seen 29 of his companies dissolved. All his companies are overdue with accounts. Mileson made his fortune selling Arnott Insurance for £17m and Albany Vehicle Rentals and Claims Management for £46.8m. The 100-a day chain smoker is currently recovering at home from a brain infection which saw him in hospital. This episode once again raises the question of the adequacy of 'fit and proper person' tests in football.
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