BROOKS KO AT GRETNA.

Byline: By Gordon Parks

HALF of Gretna's playing staff could lose their jobs this week after Brooks Mileson cut all ties with the club.

The Borders outfit put themselves into administration yesterday after informing their employees at a meeting at Raydale Park.Only a cash loan from the SPL will enable the club to fulfil their remaining fixtures this season and prevent a chaotic resetting of the league table. A 10-point penalty will be imposed which leaves them 21 points adrift at the bottom of the table, ensuring they will be relegated at the end of a catastrophic campaign.

Mileson's continuing ill-health has forced the club into serious financial straits and it's clear the millionaire owner has washed his hands of the team he backed from non-league to top-flight football in the space of five years.

Astatement read: "Due to ill health, he is currently not in a position to facilitate further funding.

"Following a board meeting on March 7, the directors passed a resolution to place the club into administration and a formal notice of intention was filed in the Court of Session in Edinburgh."

And the man who handled Motherwell's administration six years ago warned jobs will go.

Bryan Jackson of PKF slashed the Fir Park playing staff the first day of administration and believes Gretna will be a carbon-copy situation.

He said: "I had to make 19 players redundant on the first day and six non-football staff had to leave. That's the brutal nature of administration but it's a better option than liquidation and going to the wall.

"Some players may be asked to take a wage cut and it's either a case of that or no job at all.

"It's a difficult time for any club but the law requires the administrator to do what he must to keep the club operational.

"Just as Motherwell were a few years ago, Gretna have been dependant on just one man and unless there is another white knight going to ride in, it's a bleak situation.

"Gretna must believe they have a plan to pay their creditors and now they have a bit of breathing space."

Players Union chief Fraser Wishart was called in by the Raydale Park squad to clarify their own futures ahead of tonight's game against St Mirren.

He said: "Gretna are not yet in full administration but once that happens I'll have a meeting with them to discuss the players' point of view.

"The players are in limbo but have a game against St Mirren they must prepare for.

"But I know the consequences for players are not good. I'm sure some of them will lose their contracts but that's not clear."

Wishart fears restrictions of the transfer market could force his members to find a new club before the end of this month.

He said: "I've advised the players of their rights and I always go on about how football players' employment is different.

"The example being playersfinding themselves in this situation outwith the transfer window. They will have to apply to FIFA for special dispensation which is further complicated with Scotland and England having the old transfer deadline at the end of this month after which clubs cannot sign players.

"It's a dreadful situation for the players. In the meantime they're being asked to play games and train as normal so it's a testing time for them mentally. They are also concerned about Brooks' health."

Wishart highlighted the perils of having only one man in control of finances.

He said: "It only takes one change of situation for it to go this way."