Crisis-hit Gretna let more talent leave

Mar 26 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

CRISIS club Gretna have reluctantly released their best player because they cannot afford to pay for his rehabilitation – on the day captain Chris Innes became their first player to take redundancy.

Caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth has admitted the chance of injured Fabian Yantorno playing for the Black-and-Whites again are “next to zero”. And Aurelien Collin and Mickael Buscher are expected to ask Fifa to allow them to follow the Uruguayan playmaker and Innes out of the club today. Gretna are bottom of the Scottish Premier League and, having gone into administration, admit they cannot afford to keep Yantorno on their wage bill.

“Fabian needs specialist rehabilitation which we can’t provide,” Wadsworth admitted. “It was his and his agent’s wish that he could be released so he could go elsewhere for treatment.” Yantorno injured his knee ligaments during the January 19 victory against Falkirk. He collided with on-loan Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul in an incident which ended the season for both players.

The transfer window has now closed, but French defender Collin, 22, and striker Buscher, 21, plan to ask the world’s governing body for permission to join other clubs regardless.

Innes has refused to play for the club since they went into administration, but the 31-year-old claimed he had been let go because of interest from other clubs. "I got a call from the administrator to say I was no longer of service to the club," the former Dundee United defender revealed.

"I was told I was being chosen because I'd had options to go on loan and so would have a better chance of finding a new club. I've had three and a bit fantastic years at Gretna, but now I'll have to look for pastures new."

Innes joined the club in January 2005 and captained them in the 2006 Scottish Cup final.