Gretna buyer party to SFL talks

The party interested in buying troubled Gretna today held talks with the Scottish Football League.

Wilson Field, the administrators running the club, were scheduled to attend a meeting with league bosses and brought along representatives from the consortium, which is fronted by football agent Paul Davies.

However, the meeting was designed to provide information to the administrators and Davies and no major decisions were taken.

Wilson Field made all players and staff redundant last week and the club are not assured of joining the Irn-Bru First Division even if a takeover is completed.

Gretna were relegated after being hit with a 10-point penalty by the Scottish Premier League but their Raydale Park ground does not currently meet First Division standards.

SFL chiefs went over rules regarding clubs in administration and stadium requirements at today’s meeting. Administrators will return to Hampden tomorrow, when the SFL hold a management committee meeting and their AGM.

SFL operations director David Thomson said: “The interested party was here today because they were looking for guidance in certain rules in the Scottish Football League.

“The administrator asked to bring in the prospective purchaser. They were invited in to ask a few questions but not in terms of negotiations.

“I have to make that perfectly clear, we don’t negotiate with prospective purchasers. The administrators have complete power over the running of the club.”

Gretna are in the hat for tomorrow’s Challenge Cup first-round draw but their involvement, and their future, remains uncertain.