Fans fear the end of Gretna
Last updated 11:19, Saturday, 10 May 2008
GRETNA fans fighting to save the stricken club fear time has run out for a new owner to come forward.
The club faces a winding up order in seven days’ time if the administrators do not receive a bid from one of the four parties who have expressed interest.
Members of the influential Gretna Supporters’ Society action group met with joint-administrator David Elliot after the creditors’ meeting on Thursday, and he spelled out the bleak situation.
The fans’ group has thrown its weight and financial support behind Glasgow-based football agent Paul Davies but the indications are that he is not yet in a position to make a bid.
Society chairman Craig Williamson said: “Fans fear that there is not a lot of time left as D-Day is fast approaching.
“Only the most optimistic ones think that the club can be saved but we won’t give up the fight because there is always hope.
“We’re just living in hope that one of the bids is successful but there seem to be lots or problems.
“We will continue to raise funds and we will be having a meeting after the Hearts game on Tuesday night.
“Paul Davies is the only interested buyer we have had any contact with, but the supporters group would back anyone with the right ideas.”
Supporters are trying to establish the ownership of the ground after confusion over whether it belongs to the club or if it is owned by the wider community. Administrators insist it belongs to the limited company, but fans have told him it was bought by subscription by Gretna residents.
The other stumbling block is the size of the footballing debt, including the contracts of former players who claim they are still owed money, which a new owner would have to take over.
If Gretna does cease to exist after next Saturday’s deadline, the supporters’ society is hoping to re-establish the club in non-league football – six years after they left the English UniBond League to join the Scottish Football League.
Williamson said: “If the club is resurrected out of the ashes, it is unlikely we will ever get back into the Scottish Football League.
“There is a hardcore of fans and it was far nicer when we were in Scottish football. To be playing in non-league football again would be disappointing but we would go down that route.”
