Gretna Going Out Of Business

From BBC Sport:

Administrators at Gretna FC have said they feel the Raydale Park side has ceased to exist as a football club.

The only interested party in taking over the team has withdrawn its offer.

David Elliot from administrators Wilson Field said he expected the Scottish Football League to expel the side within a "matter of days".

He has concluded that the club could not continue as a business and would be unable to guarantee it could complete league fixtures next year.

Gretna went into administration in March this year with debts of about £4m after backer Brooks Mileson withdrew his support.

Last week the SFL relegated the club to Division Three.

Mr Elliot said he would now look to market the Raydale Park ground "outside football".

"I had one offer on the table which I decided at that late stage I would pursue," he explained.

"The prospective purchaser had produced a business plan based on First Division football and so he has formally withdrawn his offer.

"Effectively we are still technically in the Third Division but I can't complete fixtures next season."

He said he had informed the SFL of that situation and expected them to expel the club soon.

"The problem with this club is it started off in 1946 with a group of ex-servicemen coming back from World War Two setting up a village football team," said Mr Elliot.

"Then a few years ago Mr Mileson took over and injected a lot of money into the club and it enjoyed a lot of success on the football pitch.

"But if you take away the benefactor - the person supplying the money - then financially you have a real mess."

A number of clubs have already expressed an interest in taking their place in Division Three.

Spartans, Annan Athletic, Preston Athletic and Cove Rangers are all preparing applications for their spot.

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Never nice to see a club go out of business. I guess the fans may setup a new club & start from the bottom again but they really have seen the dream turn into a nightmare.

Unfortunately these days the financial requirements to play at the top level are such that you can't just fly through the leagues like Gretna did and survive. Clubs have to build up gradually which is a shame really as it restricts progress for smaller clubs.

From there rise to the top league, in superb fashion, it's hard to believe their fall from grace.
I really feel for this club, and their supporters.

They played some fantastic football, before their promotion to the Scottish Premier League, but unfortunately they could not sustain the financial side of playing top flight football.

I remember (years ago), when they played in the English North West Counties League, and remember watching them at my local side Fleetwood Town.
And to see their rise over the past few years in the Scottish Leagues was fantastic to see.

But as Eddie stated, small clubs need a gradual rise to the higher leagues, otherwise they end up like poor old Gretna.

I wish all the ex players luck in finding new clubs, and hope the supporters can find a team to take over the Gretna name, and push forward, at a more steady rate and end up with success.

Good luck to all.

Sad news this, but I fear there will be a few more clubs go to the wall before football changes (if it ever does) and starts to look after the lesser lights. I hope Gretna can rebuild as an amateur club and come back again.