Brooks Is Being Placed Under Too Much Strain ... We Must Find Fresh Bankrollers For Gretna Says Mick Wadsworth

Feb 24 2008 By Mark Guidi

Rangers V Gretna Today, Kick-Off 3pm

GRETNA director of football Mick Wadsworth insists the club must build a new dynasty and stop relying on owner Brooks Mileson's millions.

It has been a turbulent week at Raydale Park with Mileson's poor health leading to late payment of wages and rumours of administration.

The threat of financial ruin eased when Gretna's owner discharged himself from hospital but fans know Mileson won't be around forever.

The Englishman has bankrolled the club's amazing rise through the leagues but Wadsworth reckons they can't keep asking him to bail them out of trouble.

Mileson's son Craig could take over when his dad is no longer around but Wadsworth is determined to make Gretna more independent by bringing in new investors.

Wadsworth said: "The club will need to change even ifwe get through this sticky spell.

"When Brooks is back to full health we will discuss the way ahead - he can't keep throwing money at it.

"We need a model to attract new investors. We also need to build a stadium that is right for us, not just the SPL.

"I want to make sure Gretna are still here in five years and thriving with a young, dynamic team."

Wadsworth was responsible for signing Uruguayan striker Fabian Yantorno and has more talented foreign youngsters on the radar.

He insists Gretna must become a selling club to survive.

The Englishman said: "The only way ahead is to find more players like Yantorno, bring themhere and sell themon after a year or two.

"But nobody has said to me 'Well done for bringing Yantorno to the club.'"

Many Gretna supporters want Wadsworth axed after he was cast as the villain for carrying out swingeing cuts.

And while the Yorkshireman will continue to make unpopular decisions if they benefit the club, he will step out of the shadows today to take charge of the team following Davie Irons' exit to Morton.

Debuts don't get much tougher than facing Rangers on their own patch but Wadsworth's self-belief is backed up by some of the top names in English football.

He impressed Alan Shearer during his stint as Robson's No.2 at Newcastle and also worked under the legendary gaffer then Graham Taylor with England.

Wadsworth has also managed Huddersfield and Carlisle and last week was interviewed for the role of technical director with the Canadian FA.

If offered the job he won't accept it before the end of the season. His immediate focus is on leading Gretna in the SPL.

He said: "I've never managed a team at Ibrox so it's exciting.

"We then play Kilmarnock on Wednesday in a huge game.

"It has been a toughweek and once again I've been cast as a devil. I've had to put up with a lot of criticism and sometimes it has worn me thin but I haven't quit because I want to see this through with Brooks.

"It wasn't easy having to tell people at Gretna they were losing their jobs.

"People who truly know me realise I work hard. Guys like Robson, Shearer and Taylor know and understand me."

Winger Brendan McGill insists Gretna's players are in good spirits heading to Ibrox despite last week's turmoil.

He said: "It has been difficult with not getting paid but that's sorted. Brooks is out of hospital which is the most important thing.

"The players are focused on our next two games and we also went paintballing which gave us a wee lift.

"There is no pressure on us at Ibrox and everyone thinks we'll lose by three or four. We'll see."