SPL ready to help Gretna

Gretna are expected to survive at least until the end of the season after the Scottish Premier League confirmed financial assistance could be offered to the cash-strapped club.

SPL secretary Iain Blair confirmed bottom-of-the-table Gretna could receive a cash advance to ensure they can complete their scheduled games.

Gretna will shed more light on their situation on Monday, with a club statement which should reveal what the future holds for the club who have enjoyed a fairytale rise since entering the Scottish league system less than six years.

They have not entered administration at this stage, but with owner Brooks Mileson still battling serious illness, caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth revealed his concerns for the club's future after just 501 supporters attended Thursday's SPL match against Dundee United.

Blair told the Scottish Sun: "What has happened over the last four or five years is clubs have been able to apply to the SPL for a loan during the season on the basis the loan is recovered from fees they'd get later on in the season."

He explained: "We very much expect Gretna to fulfil their fixtures and be there at the end of the season.

"I can't foresee, given how close we are to the end of the season, a mechanism which would see Gretna go out of business."