The club today filed for administration in the courts, weeks after losing their income stream from owner Brooks Mileson.

Administrators are expected to be appointed later this week but a cash windfall from the SPL has prevented the season being thrown into chaos.

The league are understood to have given the bottom club a six-figure advance.

Gretna chairman Ron MacGregor said: "We have had tremendous support in terms of advice and loan money from the Scottish Premier League.

"Considering we are their newest member, and probably their short-lived member for the moment, they have been very, very good with us.

"They are making available a loan. It is a loan against money that would have been due to us at the end of April anyway.

"But making this loan money available - it is going through the banking system now - will enable the staff and players to be paid this week.

"Then afterwards it's into the administrators' hands." When asked if the loan had kept the club in business, MacGregor replied: "Probably, for the moment, the SPL's loan has, yes."

Despite the financial help from the SPL, Gretna will still face a 10-point deduction and a transfer embargo when the administrators take over.

And tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash against St Mirren could be the last game for many players as the administrators try to reduce the wage bill.

But PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart revealed they were all eager to play.

He told PA Sport: "I met with the players this morning and they were in good spirits but they are in limbo.

"The players don't want their futures played out in the press, they are looking for clarity and they had a barrage of questions for me.

"I'm guessing that there will be casualties but we hope that they are kept to a minimum.

"It is an unusual situation for players to be in. They are preparing for the game against St Mirren knowing that they could pick up an injury then be made redundant at the end of the week.

"They could be out for a couple of months or even longer and not have any wages coming in.

"It is a great credit to them as professionals, they have all been turning up for training and they are all wanting to play."

Today's news had been expected after their financial difficulties came to a head last month when owner and benefactor Mileson fell ill.

Mileson bankrolled Gretna's rise from the Third Division to the top flight - with a Scottish Cup final and brief UEFA Cup sojourn on the way.

But a policy of signing players with SPL experience shifted to a greater emphasis on youth even before they reached the top division.

Gretna's debut season in the SPL has been fraught with difficulty, with fans facing a 150-mile round trip to Motherwell for home games, as their Raydale Park ground does not meet standards.

Their wage bill was reduced further in recent months but weekly payments to players were delayed last month after Mileson - the only person able to sign off the cheques from the holding company - was admitted to hospital with a brain infection.

Head coach Davie Irons and assistant Derek Collins then left for Morton, with director of football Mick Wadsworth taking over as caretaker boss.

Mileson was released from hospital on February 21 and payments to players were gradually brought up to date.

But the owner was still not financing the club and Wadsworth revealed the extent of the dire situation after an SPL record-low crowd of 501 turned up to watch them lose 3-0 to Dundee United at Fir Park last Thursday.

Crisis talks with club officials and debt advisers were held on Friday and the outcome was revealed today.

A club statement read: "In 2003 Brooks Mileson became owner of Gretna Football Club.

"His financing has enabled the club to achieve unprecedented success in Scottish football.

"However, due to his ill health, he is currently not in a position to facilitate further financing.

"Following a board meeting on Friday, the directors passed a resolution to place the club into administration, and the formal notice of intention was filed in the Court of Session in Edinburgh this morning.

"We anticipate that administrators will be appointed in the next few days."

That appointment will trigger the 10-point deduction which will remove any slim hopes they had of avoiding bottom place - they currently have 16 points, 11 less than nearest rivals St Mirren.

Relegation is now assured but their long-term future remains in doubt given the uncertainty over Mileson's involvement.

And the dark clouds hanging over the club followed them to Fir Park, where a pitch inspection will be held tomorrow at 11am following more heavy rain in Lanarkshire.