THE consortium who failed to convince the Scottish Football League of their capacity to operate Gretna as a First Division club next season produced a handwritten note from Brooks Mileson as part of their submission at Hampden.
The Scotsman has learned that the Glasgow-based group, headed by football agent Paul Davies, showed the SFL management committee the note signed in the name of Mileson who has made no public appearance or comment regarding Gretna since the club wen
t into administration in March.
The 60-year-old businessman, is believed to have invested £8 million of his own money in Gretna since taking control in 2003, left the club owning creditors around £4 million and with uncertainty surrounding the ownership of their Raydale Park ground. The note from Mileson presented to the SFL management committee on Thursday is understood to have outlined an agreement from him that his shares in Gretna be transferred to the Paul Davies consortium. Along with the business plan put forward by Davies, however, it was unable to persuade the SFL that Gretna could be a viable member of the First Division next season.
It also emerged that the decision to relegate Gretna directly to the Third Division was taken solely by the SFL management committee and presented as a fait accompli to their annual general meeting later in the day. It was initially suggested that a unanimous vote of the members clubs had pushed the decision through, but no such endorsement was necessary.
Under rule 76.2 of the SFL's regulations, the management committee has "full power to deal with as it thinks fit" with any club "guilty of conduct contrary to the interests of the League and its member clubs" or "potentially likely to prejudice the orderly progress of the League Championship". Such conduct includes going into administration.
The management committee is made up of SFL president Brown McMaster (Partick Thistle), vice-president Jim Ballantyne (Airdrie United), Vivien Kyles (Livingston), Euan Cameron (Alloa), Gordon McDougall (Cowdenbeath), Alan Ripley (Arbroath), Donnie Macintyre (Dumbarton) and Les Gray (Hamilton). Airdrie United chairman Ballantyne, whose own club were promoted to the First Division as a consequence of Gretna's demotion, took no part in the management committee decision which resulted in a 7-0 majority.
David Longmuir, the SFL chief executive, has imposed a deadline of early next week for Gretna to find a buyer willing to operate them in the Third Division but that appears highly unlikely. David Elliot of the club's Sheffield-based administrators Wilson Field has admitted that he now expects to have to place Gretna into liquidation.
Asked if he now expected Gretna to fold, Elliot said: "Regrettably, I think that is the case, being realistic. That is where we are and it is a matter of days."
He now expects the Paul Davies consortium to withdraw their interest. "Weve advertised the club extensively," said Elliot. "We've had interest from overseas, we have whittled down the offers to basically one and it would appear that as a result of the Scottish Football League meeting, that offer may well disappear. Over the next few days, I will be trying to see if there is something which can be rescued or not.
"As administrator, we are appointed by the court and we need to make certain that the club could sustain itself in terms of making payments to all of the people we employ and all of the suppliers. From what I've seen over the last few months, the club cant do that. I personally, as administrator, will not trade Gretna in football next season."
The SFL is ready to invite applications for membership from clubs interested in filling the vacancy which will occur in the Third Division for the 2008-09 campaign.
Spartans will be the front-runners in that particular race, and the Edinburgh are already busy preparing an application. The East of Scotland League side will move to a new £3million home at Ainslie Park in the north of the city next season. The stadium, which will comply with SFL regulations and have a capacity of between 2,500 and 3,000, is expected to be ready by the end of August.
East of Scotland rivals Annan Athletic are also poised to bid, but need to find funds to erect floodlights and extend their dressing-rooms.
Preston Athletic, who were rejected by the SFL in 2000 and 2002, have also confirmed their intention to apply, but East of Scotland champions Whitehill Welfare have ruled it out.
Highland League champions Cove Rangers appear to be the only club from the north preparing a bid, but one based sharing a purpose-built new community facility which is not yet ready. Huntly have ruled themselves out and there is little interest among the juniors.
CANDIDATES• SPARTANS
The East of Scotland League club have made a name for themselves in the Scottish Cup in recent years, but it is their move to a new £3 million stadium in north Edinburgh this summer and a commitment to youth football which puts them on pole position.
• ANNAN ATHLETIC
Located just seven miles from Gretna, Annan are also well placed to step in and replace their near neighbours. With a new 500-seater stand in place at Galabank, all the East of Scotland club need are floodlights and bigger dressingrooms.
• COVE RANGERS
The sole Highland League candidates would based their application on a purpose-built new community facility, which is already well at the advanced stages of planning. But they would have to play at Allan Park next season.
• PRESTON ATHLETIC
Pennypit has floodlights and a 500-seater stand, but would some upgrading. The Prestonpans club may propose to change their name to East Lothian FC should they be voted in.
The full article contains 969 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
