Shoddy Collins Leads Bids to Take Gretna Over.

The Scottish Premier League has advanced Gretna some of the money the club needs to survive until at least the league splits.
Gretna, who entered administration this week after benefactor Brooks Mileson withdrew his financial backing after falling ill.

BBC Sport has learned Gretna will be paid £100,000 by the SPL.

Meanwhile, former Carlisle United boss Roddy Collins is heading an Irish consortium aiming to buy the club.

The money from the SPL would enable Gretna to play the five matches before the league divides into top six and bottom six.

Collins said he and other members of property developers the McMullen Group, will meet administrators at Raydale Park on Tuesday to discuss the bid.

Gretna's SPL match against Aberdeen on Saturday will also go ahead, despite the club entering administration.

Its future remains in doubt after benefactor Brooks Mileson withdrew his financial backing through illness.

Gretna's administrator David Elliot said on Thursday only 10 players were willing to play on Saturday.

But the club said that a full squad would travel to Pittodrie and it thanked everyone for their messages of support and goodwill.

A club spokesman said that a number of U-19 players would feature at Pittodrie.

"We've got a squad now capable of travelling so there's no problems at all doing that," he added.


Roddy Collins was previously linked with a takeover at Glentoran

"Obviously, it's not going to have some of the players that were here beforehand.

"It will include three or four under-19 players but generally it still contains a lot of the original squad."

The club has indicated that it is confident the league game against Celtic scheduled for Sunday 23 March at Fir Park will also go ahead.

If Gretna cannot complete the 10 remaining games of the season, the Scottish Premier League will have to recalculate the standings.

All points from games involving the bottom club would be taken out of the reckoning.

Dundee United, who have lost twice to Gretna, would be the main beneficiaries.


Gretna's players are facing an uncertain future

Celtic, who are three points behind league leaders Rangers, would move top of the table on goal difference.

However, Rangers would have two games in hand rather than the one they have at present.

Like Kilmarnock, St Mirren no longer have the threat of relegation hanging over them, following the 10-point penalty handed to Gretna for going into administration.

The Black and Whites have been playing at Motherwell's Fir Park this season, with Raydale not meeting the SPL seating criteria.

Motherwell have already stated their wish to liaise with the administrators and Gretna between now and the end of the season in order to assist as much as possible.