Gretna fairy godfather has major health scare

Vladimir Romanov: An apology

The seemingly impregnable feelgood factor which has enveloped Gretna for the past two years was punctured yesterday with the revelation that the club's millionaire benefactor, Brooks Mileson, underwent brain scans earlier this week.

Mileson went in for the tests after suffering blackouts and is waiting for the results. The 58-year-old's financial backing has seen the club rise from the UniBond League to the Tennent's Scottish Cup final and a place in next season's Uefa Cup.

A former international cross-country runner, he made his money from property and insurance and has helped bankroll dozens of sporting clubs and individual athletes in the North-East of England.

However, it is only since Gretna's inexorable rise began that the likeable eccentric's public profile has risen. Third Division champions in 2005, they followed that achievement by claiming the Second Division title with weeks to spare.

Thanks to Mileson's cash injections, manager Rowan Alexander was able to attract a squad of SPL players on SPL wages and they were able to steamroller their mostly part-time opponents.

It was their cup exploits which captured the imagination of even non-football lovers, though. They were expected to capitulate to Hearts in the final at the national stadium six days ago but came back from a goal down to take the Edinburgh club to extra time.

Outplaying the Champions League candidates, they were unfortunate not to claim a famous victory and earned sympathy and admiration after losing a penalty shoot-out. Mileson, as always, sat with the fans at Hampden - the club took 12,000 supporters, four times the population of the town - and enjoyed a pre-match fish supper from a local chippie.

In spite of his athletic background, Mileson smokes 100 cigarettes per day and often substitutes bottles of Lucozade for meals. He claimed to have made provisions to safeguard Gretna's finances in the event of anything happening to him.

Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray has decided not to follow Gary Caldwell, Garry O'Connor and Derek Riordan out of Easter Road, at least for the time being. He has rejected an offer from Ipswich Town to replace Joe Royle.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk