Gretna Game On

Last updated : 14 March 2008 By Stand Free Ed

ABERDEEN has been informed by the Scottish Premier League that, as far as it is concerned, Gretna will fulfil this weekend's league fixture.

Gretna FC is in administration and is thought to be only days from going out of business completely.

The players are currently not being paid and the club needed to find £30,000 to cover the costs of Saturday's game, raising questions over whether they would be able to fulfil the fixture.

AFC Managing Director Duncan Fraser said: "Following intensive discussions throughout the day involving the SPL, the administrator and ourselves, we were told late this afternoon (Thursday) that the governing body expects the match to be played, as scheduled, on Saturday at 3pm.

"From an AFC perspective, this is something we have been working extremely hard at achieving as all along preparations, both on and off the field, have been ongoing as normal in the build up to a match.

"While these are clearly difficult times for all concerned, the clear priority for everyone connected with the SPL has been to ensure we do all we possibly can to assist in ensuring Gretna fulfils its fixture commitments."

Gretna will meet SPL officials today to determine if they can indeed go ahead with Saturday's game.

The club's administrator, David Elliott of Wilson Field Ltd, had warned that they needed £30,000 by Thursday in order to fulfil the fixture.

However, the funds have not been found, meaning the players are free to join another club until 27th March as they have not been paid.

The players are also concerned about their insurance for Saturday's game, and so far only 10 senior players have committed to playing at Pittodrie.

Gretna has been docked 10 points and sit bottom of the SPL with only 6 points - effectively their two wins against Dundee United.

However, if Gretna can't complete the 10 remaining games of the season, the SPL will have to recalculate the standings.

All points from games involving the bottom club would be taken out of the reckoning, with United the main beneficiaries.

The whole Gretna affair is the latest in a number of farcical situations that have arisen since the SPL's inception, and casts yet more doubt over the credibility of the current league set-up.