The financial crisis at Gretna has deepened amid rumours of impending administration.

The club has been in talks with insolvency experts Wilson Field Ltd and have already been offered a six-figure emergency loan from the SPL.

A record low crowd of 501 witnessed Thursday's 3-0 defeat to Dundee United and the club has been in difficulty since owner Brooks Mileson was admitted to hospital four weeks ago.

SPL secretary Ian Blair confirmed: "The source of Gretna's financial difficulties entirely comes from the incapacity of their major shareholder and funder.

"But they are working towards finding solutions to that and there are a range of solutions there.

"What has happened over the last four or five years is clubs have been able to apply to the SPL for a loan during the season on the basis the loan is recovered from fees they'd get later on in the season.

"We very much expect Gretna to fulfil their fixtures and be there at the end of the season.

"I can't foresee, given how close we are to the end of the season, a mechanism which would see Gretna go out of business."