Skelton: I Couldn't Walk Out In Hour Of Need

Mar 16 2008 By Gordon Waddell

GAVIN SKELTON pulled on his boots for Gretna one last time yesterday - so he could look himself in the mirror when he got home at night.

The club's longest-serving player had agonised all week, with wages not in the bank and jobs on a knife-edge.

He weighed up pulling out of yesterday's clash with Aberdeen but finally called stand-in boss Mick Wadsworth late on Friday to say he wanted to be in the squad.

Skelton came off the bench for the second half at Pittodrie as Gretna slipped to their 21st defeat of the season.

Skelton (left) will be one of the few top-team players guaranteed a future even if the club goes to the wall.

At least two SPL clubs are waiting in the wings for his P45 to arrive. That did not appease the gutted 26-year-old though and he said: "It's been such a hard week for everyone but I needed the peace of mind of being able to say I played.

"I didn't want to let myself down or look back in years to come and regret walking away.

"So I rang the boss and he tried to make the decision as easy for me as he could.

"But I totally understand the decision of the lads who didn't play. I spoke to Chris Innes in the morning and he's right to feel the way he feels as well.

"It's a worrying time. I don't think any wages have hit the bank yet, although hopefully they will at the start of the week."

Dons scorer Barry Nicholson sympathised with Gretna's plight despite plunging the dagger in with Aberdeen's third goal yesterday.

He said: "These guys are professionals fighting for their livelihoods and it's hard not to feel for them.

"I went through some big cuts when I was at Dunfermline as they renegotiated deals to stave off administration.

"So I know it's a horrible feeling but even then it wasn't nearly as bad as the situation Gretna are facing now.

"You never want to see fellow pros out of a job - but ultimately we had a job to do too and the first goal settled us."

MATCH FACTS

6 SHOTS ON 0

6 SHOTS OFF 2

1 OFFSIDE 2

15 FOULS 7

4 CORNERS 2

0 BOOKINGS 1