Brooks’ family chased for multi-million pound debt

Apr 15 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

THE ESTATE of late Gretna FC owner Brooks Mileson is being pursued for the multi-million debt left behind by the club.

It’s understood the administrator of the failed football team, Wilson Field, has lodged a claim with lawyers who are executing the assets left by the millionaire who died of a brain illness in November, aged 60.

The claim centres around a statement in the 2006 accounts of the now defunct Gretna Football Club Limited which suggested Mr Mileson would guarantee the debt.

It said he would provide “sufficient financial support” to allow the club to trade.

But his death has plunged the already complicated saga into a legal nightmare.

Wilson Field is holding a meeting today with some of the club’s creditors to give an update on the situation.

A source told the Standard: “There is a possibility the creditors may get their money back but that depends on what can be argued about the statement Mr Mileson gave in the accounts.

“It seems he either gave an undertaking or a promise to guarantee the club’s debt.

“If it was just a promise then it won’t stand up but if it is an undertaking then a claim can be made to the estate.

“It will be a long slow process.”

A spokeswoman for Wilson Field would not comment but confirmed a meeting of a creditors committee was to be held today.

Mr Mileson’s family – including son Craig who worked at the club – has refused to make any statement on the situation.

It was last May that the first meeting of the creditors was set up to discuss the crisis at the club.

A report, obtained by the Standard, showed debts of up to £9million with a long list of 139 individuals and organisations owed cash.

Gretna’s main asset was their Raydale Park ground which is believed to have been sold – although this has not been officially confirmed by Wilson Field.

The asking price was in the region of £500,000 and it is thought locally that a developer has bought the land.

That news in January dashed hopes by the Raydale Community Partnership which had planned to buy the ground and have it used by the new non-league club, Gretna 2008.

Yesterday, local councillor Archie Dryburgh said: “We need to wait and see who this developer is to see what their proposals are and to see if we can work with them.

“Hopefully all is not lost and the community partnership is determined not to give up the fight.”