Irate creditor says 'no way' club will play next season

Published on Thursday 8 May 2008 22:41

LAST month administrators Wilson Field Ltd published a list of 139 "known creditors" of Gretna FC. Yesterday less than 20 of them turned up for the creditors meeting.

That show of apathy probably reflected the levels of confidence any of those owed sums that range from 35 to tens of thousands have of ever seeing much of their lost money again. One man, however, was not willing to sit in gloomy silence as administrator David Elliot provided an update on the grave situation facing the crisis club.

Alastair Barron, a director of Dumfries-based construction company The Barron Wright Partnership, which claims to be owed 23,500 for preliminary works on the redevelopment of Raydale Park and the proposed 'eco-stadium', is so incensed with the state of the affairs that he called on the administrator to close the club on the spot.

"It should have been wound up weeks ago," Mr Barron told The Scotsman after the meeting. "It is a complete financial shambles."

Elliot later explained this was not a road he was willing to go down so long as he felt their was still hope the club could be saved. The administrator said: "I was asked by one irate creditor to stop and wind the club up now, but I said having gone this far I was not prepared to do that. I am not going to stop and not give Gretna the chance of keeping its football club. We go to the end of the season."

Barron said his reasoning for seeking immediate closure was to "wave two fingers at the Self Preservation League (SPL]" which he believes has helped prolong the agony at Gretna to avoid the chaos which would have ensued had they not been able to fulfil their fixtures.

Barron does not share Elliot's belief that Gretna retains the possibility of any kind of future. "There is no way Gretna will be playing next season," he said. "There is simply too much debt and then there is the issue with the ground. Raydale Park is not compliant with SFL regulations – it wasn't even when they were playing in the First Division. They were only given dispensation because they were an associate member but now they are full members (of the SFL]."

Barron also voiced his displeasure that Wilson Field Ltd had charged fees of 253,000 in their first five weeks at Gretna. He said: "I suggested, partly tongue in cheek, that should be reduced by 95 per cent."

Barron said the wrongful trading investigation, which could result in directors being held personally responsible for debts incurred, was the one "ray of hope" in a bleak situation. But he is frustrated by the lack of any communication with Brooks Mileson, or his son Craig. "Could Craig Mileson not come out and elaborate on the state of his father's health?" asked Barron. "If he is genuinely seriously ill then fair enough."