Gretna move into administration

[Devilfish]

Irons saddened by Gretna plight

Former Gretna manager Davie Irons says the SPL club has grown "too big, too quickly" following news that it plans to move into administration.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7285324.stm

[allycoops]

They done a great job getting to the SPL but I aint suprised at this. irons is right, to big to quickly

[Baaheeduk]

I think ground sharing will be a thing of the past.

By the time Gretna pay rates for their own ground and whatever it cost to rent Fir Park as well as all the other costs, it's no wonder they have went into administration?

They hardly get a support at home never mind away.

I said they would struggle to create revenue when they first got promotion. Gretna v ICT on a wet Wednesday night at Fir Park isn't going to attract a huge crowd? The bill for keeping the floodlights on for 90 mins would vastly outweigh the gate money I suspect?

[gazz10]

there home game last week with dundee utd only atractted 523, and i bet most of them were utd fans, if they do close the doors it will make a big difference to the league a few have played gretna more than others so they would be deducted points, so rangers for example would only be one point clear having played gretna more than celtic..


just read that
Gretna P-P St Mirren

Tuesday's Scottish Premier League game between Gretna and St Mirren has been postponed because the pitch at Fir Park is waterlogged.

[allycoops]

there home game last week with dundee utd only atractted 523, and i bet most of them were utd fans, if they do close the doors it will make a big difference to the league a few have played gretna more than others so they would be deducted points, so rangers for example would only be one point clear having played gretna more than celtic..
just read that
Gretna P-P St Mirren

Tuesday's Scottish Premier League game between Gretna and St Mirren has been postponed because the pitch at Fir Park is waterlogged.


dont like that one bit, LOL, but SPL supposed to be gona give guarantee on the the cash they would receive at end of season enabling them to continue till the end of season. Play Celtic in 2 weeks

whats up with the owner, he's seriously ill in newcastle hospital? and cant write the cheques?

anyone know

[Baaheeduk]

whats up with the owner, he's seriously ill in newcastle hospital? and cant write the cheques?

anyone know

He's out the hospital now mate. BBC Story Here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7258453.stm)

[allycoops]

Well thats good news for him and the club too by the looks of it.(and hopefully Rangers)

[gazz10]

A statement from the club read: "In 2003, Brooks Mileson became the owner of Gretna Football Club.

"His financing has enabled the club to achieve unprecedented success in Scottish football.

"However, due to ill heath, he is currently not in a position to facilitate further funding.

"Following a board meeting on 7 March, the directors passed a resolution to place the club into administration and a formal notice of intention was filed in the Court of Session in Edinburgh this morning.

"We anticipate that administrators will be appointed in the next few days."

Gretna chairman Ron MacGregor praised the SPL for its financial help and said it had probably secured the club's short-term future.


Was in newcastle i think he out now , was some sort of brain infection


latest from there site

Chairman Ron MacGregor has applauded the Scottish Premier League for safeguarding the immediate future of the club.

With increasing financial difficulties due to owner Brooks Mileson’s ill health, Gretna have been granted an advance on their share of television and prize money, which is normally presented at the end of the season.

This ensures the Black and Whites will fulfil all remaining fixtures, although insolvency experts Wilson Field Ltd are expected to take control of the club on Wednesday.

“We have had tremendous support in terms of advice and loan money from the Scottish Premier League,” he said.

“Considering we are their newest member, and probably their short-lived member for the moment, they have been very good with us.”

“They are making available a loan. It is a loan against money that would have been due to us at the end of April anyway.”

“But making this loan money available will enable the staff and players to be paid this week. Then after that, it’s into the administrators’ hands.”

Following the club’s announcement of their intention to appoint an administrator, the SPL confirmed the sporting sanctions which would apply in the event of such an appointment.

An SPL spokesman said: “If an SPL club is the subject of an insolvency event, a ten point deduction would apply immediately. The club would also be embargoed from signing any new players.”

“The notice of the intention to appoint an administrator alone does not trigger the sporting sanctions - it is the actual appointment of an administrator which does.”

“If an administrator is indeed appointed we will seek an early meeting with him or her to discuss the plans for Gretna FC going forward and how we can best support these.”

[Baaheeduk]

Well thats good news for him and the club too by the looks of it.(and hopefully Rangers)

That story is from the 22nd Feb mate. He's been out since then and they have still drifted up sh*t creek :toilet:

[allycoops]

so I see Cliff , just been reading the dates of that story and other stories. Hopefully they will survive and get it sorted

[Baaheeduk]

What I can't understand is Brookes has given a lot of money to other football teams/supporters clubs.

They must be in a serious amount of debt if he can't help them?

[allycoops]

I know mate, think this ground sharing lark has ate alot of cash. I know he gave 25K to Berwick Rangers supporters trust to allow them to buy a stake in club.

[Baaheeduk]

I know mate, think this ground sharing lark has ate alot of cash. I know he gave 25K to Berwick Rangers supporters trust to allow them to buy a stake in club.


Yeah mate, I follow Dundee (well used to, don't go to footie now) and he's pumped money into the Dee for life campaign too.

[Baaheeduk]

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."

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.

Media conference: Gretna administrator David Elliot Interview: Former Gretna chief exec Graeme Muir
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"
Graeme Muir
former Gretna chief executive

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."

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/spo...na/7291519.stm

Published: 2008/03/13 08:37:23 GMT

? BBC MMVIII

[gazz10]

Gretna crisis grows
Dons game expected to be postponed and players free to leave



Gretna's appointed administrator David Elliot admits the club's situation has 'deteriorated' since Wednesday and that their weekend match against Aberdeen is expected to be postponed.



The Scottish Premier League club officially entered administration on Wednesday and they now face a race against time to avoid closure after being ordered to find ?30,000 to pay for Saturday's tip to Aberdeen


And at a press conference on Sky Sports News on Thursday afternoon Elliot has stated that the club now finds itself in a worse position and expects the trip to Pittodrie to be called off.


Elliot has stated that the club plans to continue to operate, but confessed all players are free to leave as their contracts have been breached.


"The position has not improved from yesterday, it has deteriorated and I am not convinced we will be able to put a team out on Saturday," said Elliot, of administrators Wilson Field.



Breach of rules


"That would mean we are breach of league rules and would leave us open to be fined and face other penalties. Unfortunately we are running out of time."


Elliot revealed he has spoken to officials at Aberdeen and Motherwell - currently providing Gretna with a groundshare arrangement - and a number of other clubs but has not yet had chance to speak to the league about a possible postponement.


"Motherwell have been very helpful and have offered a compromise on the amount the club have to pay them in each home game in an effort to get the club through," Elliot continued.


"My thanks also go out to the other clubs that are to wishing to help and I very much want to play the fixture on Saturday, but I still don't have the funds and the players have still not been paid."


Gretna's players are keen to continue with the under-threat club, according to Elliot, but he admits he will not be able to stand in their way should they want to leave.



Loyalty


"There is a willingness on the part of all parties to continue but it should be remembered each player is now facing a situation where their contract has been breached. They should be paid and they haven't been," Elliot added.


"The players will need to consider their own positions. There is, until 27th March, the opportunity to move to another club if they wished. I can't stand in their way - morally, ethically or legally.


"I have had a meeting with the players. They are considering their positions and I was impressed by the loyalty and the way in which they are wanting to keep the football club playing.


"But we have a lack of players in certain positions and I believe it may well be necessary to seek permission to postpone the match on Saturday.


"I am not giving up. I will try again tomorrow to get the team sorted out but as of today I do not have a team that we can put out on Saturday."

[Devilfish]

Apparently they've only got 10 players who are willing to play against Aberdeen on Saturday.

No insurance and no wages...

[gazz10]

So postpone the game and then get a full house for next game against celtic. Its comical so it is, rest of world must looking in and saying yip spl is mickey mouse league

[Devilfish]

The game against Aberdeen is set to go ahead tomorrow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7295175.stm