Gretna fail to pay their staff while Mileson ill

GRETNA have confirmed they have been unable to pay players and staff due to club owner Brooks Mileson's continued hospitalisation.

The 59-year-old has bankrolled the tiny Dumfriesshire outfit's progress to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League from the Third Division. However, Mileson collapsed last week and is still undergoing tests at a Newcastle hospital to establish the cause of the problem.

"We can confirm that players and staff were issued with a notice from our human resources department to tell them that due to Brooks Mileson being in hospital, normal procedures had not been taken and they could not be paid on time," said a club spokesman.

"Our accountants have been working on it all day. Hopefully it is a short-term problem. Urgent and immediate action will be taken, and, hopefully, the matter will be resolved within the next couple of days."

The spokesman was unable to explain why this situation had not arisen on previous occasions when Mileson was ill. He did, however, say that the club owner remained committed to funding Gretna and keeping it running. "The Mileson family has a long-term commitment to the football club," he added. "If Brooks was to leave the club, his son, Craig, would continue his work."

It was reported last night that up to 60 players and staff at Gretna are paid weekly by a holding company, and only Mileson senior can authorise the payments.

Finances at the club have been stretched this season with Gretna suffering poor crowds after being forced to play home matches at Fir Park, Motherwell's ground, with Raydale Park not meeting SPL stadia criteria.