GRETNA moved a step closer to extinction last night when the club's administrators issued redundancy notices to nine first-team players, 13 youth players, one scout and the six-strong community coaching team.

The administrators, Wilson Field, took the dramatic course of action to keep the club alive but the players will now have until Monday to find new clubs or face unemployment until the summer.

Chris Innes, their former captain, David Bingham, Mark Birch, Mickael Buscher, Aurelien Collin, Henry Makinwa, David Mathieson, Erik Paartalu and Michael Tait have all packed their bags at Raydale Park. Fabian Yantorno was released on Tuesday because they could no longer afford his medical treatment.

Gordon Smith, the chief executive of the Scottish FA, has successfully negotiated a deal with FIFA, world football's governing body, that will enable the redundant players to seek special dispensation to move outwith the transfer window.

Players must now submit their redundancy notice, along with a request for registration, directly to the association of the country they wish to play in and have that request ratified by FIFA's legal department. As well as the first-team squad members, Gretna have also issued redundancy notices to Ray Farningham, the club's European scout, and Mario Campagna, Jake Cunningham, Liam Cusack, Grant Easton, Nicholas Faulds, Conor Grant, Joseph Hughes, Callum McKinlay, Christopher Moffet, Jack Pattison, Alex Redfern, Ryan O'Hara and Daniel Smee from the youth squad.

Six community coaches were also dismissed yesterday morning: Kevin Somerville, Darren Edmondson, Paul Menlove, Ross Murray, David Bradbury and Kenni Dinnell.

Operations manager Craig Mileson, the son of erstwhile owner Brooks, has also reportedly ended his association with Gretna. The club have already been docked 10 points for slipping into administration after illness prevented Mileson from signing cheques. Administrators announced last week that finance had been secured from the Scottish Premier League to fulfil their remaining fixtures in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

But yesterday's announcement leaves the club with a skeleton staff as they prepare for a league match against St Mirren on Saturday that could confirm relegation.

Last night, Fraser Wishart, the secretary of the Professional Footballers' Association of Scotland, was busy trying to relocate the members affiliated to the players' union but admitted the future could be bleak for the unlucky ones. "It is a lottery now," Wishart told The Herald. "We are hopeful of getting these players other clubs but the deadline we are working to is very tight.

"Some could be left high and dry and it makes me laugh when I hear talk of players having all the power in football these days. Where is the power held by these players who are unemployed and, if they do not finds a club by the close of play on Monday night, may become unemployable until next season?

"Scottish football has to learn from this latest situation. Seven clubs have gone into administration in my time with the union and I have dealt with more than 100 players who have either had their contracts ripped up or altered severely."

A statement released by Wilson Field confirmed the redundancies but the administrators also remain confident the club will be able to complete the season.

Innes, who captained Gretna to the Scottish Cup final against Hearts, expressed his disappointment at the turn of events. The former Kilmarnock and Dundee United defender has already received interest from clubs in the Premier League and Morton but is now awaiting confirmation of an offer before stating his case to FIFA's legal department.

"I got a call from the administrator to say that I was no longer of service to the club," said the 31-year-old. "When your club goes into administration you anticipate redundancies, but I just wish the decision could have been taken sooner to allow the players more time to find alternative employment."

"I've had three-and-a-bit fantastic years at Gretna, but now I'll have to look for pastures new. 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 but I'm not sure if the clubs in question will be in a position to sign me now."

Collin, meanwhile, will today bid to win a deal at English Championship side Preston. The Frenchman was expected to travel to Deepdale last night to begin a trial with the Lancashire club, who are managed by Scot Alan Irvine.

The player's agent, Simon Stainrod, said: "Aurelien is going down to Preston to train for a couple of days although no-one is really sure about the situation regarding FIFA. Alan Irvine knows all about Aurelien. I don't want to pre-empt anything but Preston might turn around and sign him until the end of the season."

Stainrod is also in talks with an unnamed club regarding striker Buscher.