This time last year Gretna football club were living the dream. They had climbed from Division 3 in Scotland to the SPL in quicker time than my team Livingston before them. Completing the climb in 3 successive promotion. Yesterday they completed the reverse journey in double quick time becoming the first team to be relegated from the SPL to Division 3 in one season.
At least that is their story in footballing terms. There is still administration and the phantom of death hanging over the turnstiles (and gaps in the walls) at Raydale Park. The club have a week to put together a plan that will enable them to play next season or else even the last vestiges of the dream of even playing in Division 3 next season will be snuffed out.
So finally, for now at least, here is the promotion and relegation status of the 2007-8 Scottish Season.
SPL:
Relegated Gretna (to Division 3)
Division 1:
Promoted Hamilton Academical
Relegated Stirling Albion
Division 2:
Promoted Ross County (as Champions)
Airdrie United (after losing to Clyde in play off final)
Relegated Berwick Rangers and Cowdenbeath(losers in playoff semi)
Division 3:
Promoted East Fife(as Champions)
Arbroath (Play off winners)
Stranraer (Play off Runners Up)
Showing posts with label Gretna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gretna. Show all posts
Friday, 30 May 2008
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Gretna Coming to Almondvale
I'm sure joke writers somewhere are having a field day working out how Gretna's next two home games will boost Livingston's attendance figures now that they are to be played at Almondvale. Personally I'm glad that something is finally being done about Motherwell's Fir Park pitch even if it is a little late to avoid so much fixture conjestion.
So yes the current team in adminstration in the SPL is now going to be travelling even further to the last SPL to be in adminstration to play Celtic and Inverness. Cetic were the last SPL side to play a competive senior game at Almondvale putting us out of last season's Scottish cup whereas Inverness Caledonian Thistle are no strangers to Almondvale with 16 previous visits to West Lothian in every league on both teams progression up the leagues.
Gretna are still in business and it looks like my team is helping to ensure that their games can go ahead providing the much needed revenue to carry on at least until the split.
So yes the current team in adminstration in the SPL is now going to be travelling even further to the last SPL to be in adminstration to play Celtic and Inverness. Cetic were the last SPL side to play a competive senior game at Almondvale putting us out of last season's Scottish cup whereas Inverness Caledonian Thistle are no strangers to Almondvale with 16 previous visits to West Lothian in every league on both teams progression up the leagues.
Gretna are still in business and it looks like my team is helping to ensure that their games can go ahead providing the much needed revenue to carry on at least until the split.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Is the This the Death of a Football Dream?
The Administrators moved in at Raydale Park home of SPL side Gretna yesterday and within hour they announced that unless £30,000 was forthcoming by lunchtime today the club would go out of business.
All through their progression through the league they were living the dream, but it appears they were also living in a dream world and not basing themselves on reality. Bills have gone unpaid and improvements to Raydale Park to meet Division 1 standards let alone the SPL criteria have not taken place. Miles Brookeson the Gretna sugar daddy is out of cash, the players and management are facing not getting paid and the football authorites in Scotland have already taken steps to avoid a repeat of the nightmare that Gretna have faced this season, no more groundsharing in the SPL being one, so grounds will need to be up to spec before promotion is gained.
However, it is always sad for any football fan when another team dies. The last time it happened ot a league side in Scotland it was Third Lanark back in 1967. Hopefully 13 March 2008 will not be the next occassion that a league side become extinct. Third Lanark at least had survived to the end of that season. But with the Inland Revenue, as ever in these situations, one of the big creditors after the club, and the club with few tangible assets, nor a sustainable fan base to cover the debts, it may not be long for Gretna now.
It could be a sad day for football, but fingers crossed that something might just save the little club even at the eleventh hour.
All through their progression through the league they were living the dream, but it appears they were also living in a dream world and not basing themselves on reality. Bills have gone unpaid and improvements to Raydale Park to meet Division 1 standards let alone the SPL criteria have not taken place. Miles Brookeson the Gretna sugar daddy is out of cash, the players and management are facing not getting paid and the football authorites in Scotland have already taken steps to avoid a repeat of the nightmare that Gretna have faced this season, no more groundsharing in the SPL being one, so grounds will need to be up to spec before promotion is gained.
However, it is always sad for any football fan when another team dies. The last time it happened ot a league side in Scotland it was Third Lanark back in 1967. Hopefully 13 March 2008 will not be the next occassion that a league side become extinct. Third Lanark at least had survived to the end of that season. But with the Inland Revenue, as ever in these situations, one of the big creditors after the club, and the club with few tangible assets, nor a sustainable fan base to cover the debts, it may not be long for Gretna now.
It could be a sad day for football, but fingers crossed that something might just save the little club even at the eleventh hour.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)