Gretna's nightmare turns back into a fairytale?

Stew · 20th March 2008, 3:29pm

A media conference has been called by the Gretna administrators for later this afternoon and rumours are abound that a scottish group headed by Paul Davies has taken over the club.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC Scotland

Gretna's administrators have called a media conference for 1630 GMT as the club's future hangs in the balance.

The Raydale club entered administration last week and are banking on a large crowd on Sunday against Celtic to provide a much-needed cash boost.

An Irish takeover consortium lead by former Carlisle manager Roddy Collins met with administrators on Tuesday. While a Scottish group headed by businessman Paul Davies was due to have their meeting at the club today.

However, a club spokesman admitted that even a big turnout at Livingston's Almondvale Stadium may not be enough to save the club. "Celtic are our only real chance of making money before the split," he said. "But I don't know if we can carry on after the Celtic game, to be honest. "It all depends on the administrators and if they feel that it is worth carrying on." "The ticket office has been busy and it looks like we have had a good response. "However, we know that Almondvale is further away than Fir Park, and the game is on television."

Earlier, Fifa granted special dispensation for the Black and Whites' players to move to another club before the end of the month.

I half want the rumours to be untrue and that the club is now defunct, but it suppose it would be good if someone has taken over the club and they can exist in Division 1 next season.

¡Punk! · 20th March 2008, 3:32pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

it would be good if someone has taken over the club and they can exist in Division 1 next season.

True. 12 points apiece for me and T-Bone next year

Addy · 20th March 2008, 3:42pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

A media conference has been called by the Gretna administrators for later this afternoon and rumours are abound that a scottish group headed by Paul Davies has taken over the club.

I half want the rumours to be untrue and that the club is now defunct, but it suppose it would be good if someone has taken over the club and they can exist in Division 1 next season.

You call yourself a football fan yet you want a club to be bankrupt. Nice.

Stew · 20th March 2008, 3:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addy

You call yourself a football fan yet you want a club to be bankrupt. Nice.

Away back to Wikipedia, son.

This discussion has been done already, and I have no pity for Gretna whatsoever, or their fan. From the thread that originally popped up when we found out that Gretna were fucked:

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_am_blip

Ho Ho Ho!

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMachina

Is it fuck. Falkirk and ICT almost went under building their new stadiums and redevelopment had a massive impact on the playing side of things for other clubs. Gretna on the other hand have done fuck all about redevloping Raydale.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMachina

why? Because they lived beyond their means and reality has finally bitten?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

Fuck that. It's what they deserve for trying to buy success when it was clearly unsustainable. Their fan-base is non-existent and their players aren't good enough for the SPL. The sooner they fuck off back down the leagues and teams like St. Johnstone can get into the SPL for their fans to see big games again the better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaemi

The majority of people are spot on when they say "fuck Gretna".
It was a club that just outspent everyone else to get where they are, however you've got to feel for some of the players. I'm sure the likes of Yantorno will have to problem finding a club, but other players will be less likely to do the same.

I get the feeling that "the good Doctor" knew this was coming when he went USA bound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil.

They should be demoted to divison 3.

No way they should have been allowed in the SPL to start with, Thistle, and go knows how many more teams spent a lot of money on bring their grounds to SPL standard, which could have been put into the team or training facilities, gretna just didn't bother, and bought sucess instead.

I'm genuinely glad they've been shown up as the english pub team that they are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by incubusgirl

Completely agree, other teams have suffered badly because of the SP(we'll change the rules when it suits us)L

Gretna got what was coming to them, they should be chucked out and Clydebank let back in

Quote:

Originally Posted by ¡Punk!

Hahaha.. would I FUCK accept the financial backing of any idiot without a history of supporting Morton.

Zippy · 20th March 2008, 3:50pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ¡Punk!

True. 12 points apiece for me and T-Bone next year

Hahaha! As if you'll be in division 1 next year

Baron Samedi · 20th March 2008, 3:50pm

Telt!

¡Punk! · 20th March 2008, 3:51pm

We have two things helping us out: Clyde and John Brown

Awright · 20th March 2008, 3:52pm

Hardly a fairytale. Their still going down, the cunts. Hopefully all the way down to the 2nd division. And hopefully never back in the SPL.

Zippy · 20th March 2008, 3:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ¡Punk!

We have two things helping us out: Clyde and John Brown

Aye, coming to think of it I hope you's fuck Brown, Goram and Albertz right out the leauge.

Stew · 20th March 2008, 4:01pm

Half an hour till the press conference, that it could go one of two ways is the most exciting thing that'll happen in football today I fear. Bye, Gretna, or a takeover.

Want make predictions? I'll go for, 'We've lost too many players and can't field a team against Celtic at the weekend,' as a long-shot, and that it's just an update on the takeovers as a more likely scenario.

Stew · 20th March 2008, 5:04pm

Dammit.

Quote:

At the request of the SPL, a meeting took place at Hampden today with the administrator appointed at Gretna FC. The objective was to seek reassurance that Gretna FC will fulfil their remaining fixtures.

An SPL spokesman said: "It was a useful meeting. The administrator informed us that he believes Gretna FC will complete its fixtures for the remainder of the season starting with their match against Celtic FC on Sunday, to be played at Almondvale Stadium, 2pm kick off."

http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10002~1270342,00.html

Rosco · 20th March 2008, 5:30pm

If i was a Celtic fan i'd be alright with that - no better opposition to get back on track than Gretna.

¡Punk! · 20th March 2008, 5:31pm

or Gretna reserves as they are just now

I knew Gretna were rooked when they started dropping quality players that had got them promoted for young unkown guys.

Stew · 20th March 2008, 5:31pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosco

If i was a Celtic fan i'd be alright with that - no better opposition to get back on track than Gretna.

I guess you're right. I just think Gretna are tossers.

¡Punk! · 20th March 2008, 5:33pm

Gretna aint tossers. Brooks Mileson is. Gretna were just fucking stupid but they aint the first, nor will they be the last, club to bend over when someone promises them success.