Gretna have been left with a shell of a squad after administrators made nine first-team players - including Aussie Erik Paartalu, currently on loan at Stirling Albion - and almost the entire youth team redundant.

Paartalu, David Bingham, Mark Birch, Mickael Buscher, Aurelien Collin, Chris Innes, Henry Makinwa, David Mathieson and Michael Tait were all given the chop, and Gretna could struggle to raise a team for their remaining SPL games.

The future of young Aussie Rostyn Griffiths, also at the club and recently forcing his way into the first team, is unclear at the moment. However, he is believed to have remained with the club

The departing players must find new clubs before the end of the month, as well as seek special dispensation from FIFA to move outside of the transfer window, or face being unemployed until the summer.

Paartalu is now being tipped to sign up with his loan club, with Albion offering him a permanent contract.

Former captain Innes hit out at administrators Wilson Field for the timing of the redundancies, claiming the players were "left in a bit of a lurch".

Wilson Field took over the financial affairs at Gretna two weeks ago and players have been awaiting their fate ever since.

"I certainly didn't expect it to take this long," Innes told Sky Sports News.

"I would have appreciated it if they had maybe told us a little bit sooner, which would certainly have helped the players' positions with regards finding other clubs.

"They've left us in a bit of a lurch and it's disappointing.

"Fingers crossed I'll have something sorted in the near future.

"There is interest from various teams in Scotland and hopefully down south."

Gretna's administrators may be confident of fulfilling their remaining SPL fixtures this season but Innes fears the future looks bleak for the Borders club, who have lost the backing of Brooks Mileson, the man who funded their climb into the Scottish top flight.

"As it stands, I think they're in a very precarious position," Innes said.

"There is no sign of a backer and the players are continually going out and being told they're going to get paid, and they're not going to get paid, and it's a very unfair position for the boys that are left at the club to be in.

"It's quite tragic in a way. It's disappointing but I've got to look forward to a future elsewhere."

The deadline for switching to a club in England is 5pm tomorrow, while a move to another Scottish side would have to be completed by March 31.

"It's a hell of a time at the moment," PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart told PA Sport.

"The players now have to sort out this mess in terms of player registration, finding new clubs etc. It's a unique situation for a lot of people."

Wishart praised the role Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has played in trying to help players secure employment elsewhere.

He added: "Gordon Smith has played a very good role in becoming involved personally by contacting FIFA.

"We wanted blanket dispensation and we didn't get that. What we do have is a guarantee that there will be a quick turnaround on each decision.

"Players have to contact FIFA with a copy of their redundancy notice and an offer from a new club and they will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

"Gordon's intervention has taken things a few steps forward and we really have to thank him for that."

Wishart also had sympathy for those players who remain at Gretna for the time being and who also face an uncertain future.

He said: "There are players still at the club who have had interest from other clubs but they are reluctant to take the gamble [to quit Gretna] because there is a danger they won't get dispensation from FIFA if they move on."

Gretna reluctantly parted company with 13 youth players, along with the club's six community coaches who were dismissed this morning.

Former community coach Kevin Somerville said: "This has come as shock because, only last week, the administrators said enough money had been secured to see the club through to the end of the season.

"Everyone came into work this week thinking we were giving it our all for the rest of the season only to have the rug pulled out from under us.

"It's not just the community coaches who are affected by this, it will affect other peoples' lives too.

"We coach kids from as young as five, as well as disabled people, and they might not get another opportunity like this.

"That's what saddens me the most.

"I've spoken to people who have been at other clubs who have gone into administration and they feel that the administrators have not done all they can to help us.

"The communication from the administrators has been dire throughout to be honest and they have not consulted with us on anything.

"All they have done is look at figures on a balance sheet."