Don't blame Gretna's demise on Brooks Mileson, says Andy Smith

Jun 8 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

FORMER Raydale coach Andy Smith has slammed the critics who blame Brooks Mileson for Gretna's demise.

Smith was made redundant by Gretna on May 19 but the ex-Airdrie striker holds no grudges and insists if it wasn't for Mileson's ill health the Borderers would be playing in the First Division next term.

Smith, who was a youth coach at Gretna, remains unemployed and is considering a return to the building site just to pay his mortgage. The club finally went under last week but the former Gretna coach is appalled at any suggestion Mileson is to blame and launched a staunch defence of his old boss.

After Borderers fans' chief John Whitehouse and St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown slated Brooks, Smith insists they should be ashamed of themselves.

Mileson is still unwell at home and Andy said: "I'm disappointed with the criticism of Brooks - he's the one person who shouldn't be getting any stick.

"I'm not having a go at the fans but the club wouldn't have had what it had without his millions.

"Brooks put on all those free buses for punters, looked after the players, staff, everybody. The man is not well and people forget that.

"People are unhappy because they have lost their club but a man's health is at stake here. It's annoying and sickening that people are saying these things.

They have asked why his family hasn't made a statement but they are entitled to their privacy.

"I've always been close to Brooks and his family and I'm convinced if he was OK the club would have been fine.

"I've spoken to his son Craig and he told me his dad's not keeping well at all so my thoughts are with Brooks. I know people have lost their jobs - I'm one of them - but at least I have my health.

"Brooks nearly died a year ago and was told then he shouldn't come back into football because of stress, but he did.

"He returned for the love of the club. I moved my family down to the area because he asked me to and I would do it again.

"Brooks spent millions and gave people memories and created a history they would never have had."

Smith can't believe cynics are questioning Mileson's integrity after the collapse of the club that went from the Third Division to the SPL, appeared in a Scottish Cup Final and made it to Europe within six years.

Andy was one of the last members of staff to be axed at Gretna but won't say a bad word against Mileson.

And he won't forget the days when he joined his old boss in helping out charities in the Borders area.

Smith said: "Supporters received a lot of hand-outs from Brooks.

"He was a charitable man too. I remember going to two hospitals, one in Dumfries and another in Carlisle. We had thousands of TVs and DVDs for sick children.

What gives people the right to have a go at Miles?

"People should be more concerned about his health than the football club.

"I'm sure if Brooks was fit enough to come out and have his say he would."

When manager Davie Irons quit Gretna in February, Smith was left beside stand-in gaffer Mick Wadsworth and coach Iain Scott to nurse the club to the end of a dismal SPL season.

Smith is now doing his SFA coaching badges and would love to get back involved in club football. If not he'll return to the building site trying to earn a wage.

Andy said: "The criticism of Mick is nothing to do with me. It was a hard few weeks for us, that's for sure.

"It was a learning curve. I will be better off for my work with the first team and so will the players who weren't paid for two or three weeks but went out and worked hard.

"I have nothing in the pipeline. I'm going to apply for a development job with the SFA but I would love to stay in club football.

"I know a lot of good people are out of the game so I'll have to be patient and realise I may have to work on my old job on the building site or on the roofs."