SFL membership: The candidates

As Gretna seem to be heading toinevitable liquidation, there are many non-league clubs drawing up their application to take their place in the SFL. Gretna’s future has been in doubt ever since former owner Brooks Mileson withdrew his financial backing and the club were exposed as being an unsustainable business.

Teams from the Highland League, East of Scotland Premier League and the South of Scotland Football League have all been linked to the position. There is a desirability about the SFL from prospective clubs, with higher profile matches – including promotion deciders and play-offs to be played if they have a successful season. They will also be entered into the Challenge Cup and the League Cup and the first round of the Scottish Cup which offers increased revenues for clubs. Every match is also covered by the national media which raises the profile of the club and may increase attendances with larger home and away supports.

Spartans FC is an Edinburgh based club and was founded in 1951 as a club for university and college students. The East of Scotland Premier League side will be moving to a new floodlit 4,000 capacity stadium next season. They have been one of the most successful clubs in the league since the 1970s and their Scottish Cup runs have proved they can compete with SFL sides. The most notable run in 2003/2004 saw them defeat second division sides Alloa and Arbroath as they reached the fourth round against then SPL side Livingston but eventually succumbed to a 4-0 defeat.

Huntly FC is another contender for the SFL. The Aberdeenshire club was accepted into the Highland League in 1928 but it wasn’t until the 1990s that Huntly were a real force, winning five Highland League titles in a row. A title has followed in 2005, but since form has proved poor with finishes of no higher than 5th place. A Scottish Cup run to the fourth round this season may bode well for them, defeating Fraserburgh, Annan Athletic and Culter on the way, before they went out 3-1 to first division side Dundee.

Whitehill Welfare, based in Rosewell, Midlothian will be looking to make the step up to league football. Formed in 1953, Whitehill Welfare, like Huntly, became a force in their league in the 1990s. They won 6 East of Scotland Premier League titles in 7 years. However their success has not been replicated in the 2000s, with only two titles, most recently in 2008. One thing that may not represent the Midlothian side well is the state of their ground with poor facilities and only 400 capacity under shelter. They have also not set the heather on fire in the Scottish Cup defeating only one league side (Albion Rovers) in their history.

Annan Athletic will a front-runner to replace Gretna FC in the SFL, having just missed out on the two spaces available in 2000 (ironically one of them was to Gretna). With a respectable ground and a location in the South of Scotland, the SFL will look approvingly on the East of Scotland Premier League side. With only Berwick, Stranraer and Queen of the South representing Southern Scotland, the SFL may want their leagues associated across the length and breadth of Scotland. Also, since entering the East of Scotland Premier League in 1987, they have won the title 4 times, most recently in 2007.

Has the Fairytale Ended?

Gretna Football Club look to be hanging over the edge of the cliff as a crisis seems to have set in at the youngest senior Scottish football club.
On Monday it was unveiled that staff and players had not been paid by the SPL side as bizarrely owner Brooks Mileson is the only person who has the authority to pay employees of Gretna FC. The players were also told not to report to training on Tuesday.
Mileson, 60, is currently at a hospital in Newcastle as his health has deteriorated over the past couple of years, suffering from ME and having two stomach operations.
Then on Tuesday morning it was unveiled that manager Davie Irons and assistant manager Derek Collins had left the club to take over at 1st Division side Greenock Morton – it all has the analogy of the abandonment of a sinking ship.
Rumours are currently circulating that Director of Football and Caretakor Manager Mick Wadsworth will leave his post to take a job as Technical Director with the Canadian FA. There is also speculation the club will enter administration on Wednesday – which will result in a ten point deduction from their current SPL total that will leave them 19 points adrift of safety and, miracle-barring, certain relegation to the first division.
Gretna FC entered the Scottish Football League in 2002 and created history by achieving 3 consecutive promotions in 2005, 2006 and 2007 to the SPL. In 2006 the club also reached the Scottish Cup final and only lost out to Hearts on penalties.
Mileson is estimated to have a personal fortune of £75million according to the Sun through insurance construction and property businesses. The problem for Gretna FC is that the heirs of his fortune are not keen on their inheritance going to a struggling football club. Gretna FC will now have to find a way which they can be self sustaining in a bid to keep the football club alive and avoid following the likes of Third Lanark, Meadowbank Thistle and Clydebank to extinction.