Administrator David Elliot of Wilson Field Ltd, who warned yesterday that Gretna were "24 hours from oblivion" and insisted £30,000 was required by lunchtime, admitted the money had not been found.

But he has asked players to fulfil their Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixture at Aberdeen on Saturday.

However, without the guarantee of wages and doubts over insurance money, he revealed this afternoon he only had 10 players available.

He said: "Each player is facing a situation where their contract has been breached.

"The players will need to consider their now position - until March 27 there is the opportunity to move to another club. I can't stand in their way morally, ethically or legally.

"I was impressed with their loyalty and the way they want to keep the football playing.

"However, we have a shortage of players in certain positions and I believe it may well be necessary to seek permission to postpone the match.

"I am not giving up and I will try again tomorrow to see if we can get a team sorted out.

"We have a shortage in particular at the goalkeeper position. Out of 17 senior players I have got 10 available for Saturday.

"They are wanting to ensure that they are insured. What I have done is to get my staff to make certain that they are insured.

"I am not an expert in insuring players but I would have thought it was a matter of finance and I would treat that as a matter of utmost priority."

Elliot fears closure if Gretna fail to play, but Aberdeen later claimed the SPL had told them to expect the game to be played as normal. The administrator has not yet asked for the game to be called off, but that could happen at any time.

The debt expert is keen to get beyond Saturday, with a lucrative home match against Celtic to follow.

Costs for the Aberdeen game have been eased, with players willing to travel on the day of the game and a coach offered to the club.

The administrator is also hoping to secure £25,000 tomorrow to pay employees part of their weekly entitlements.

He will hold talks with the Scottish Premier League when they may relax rules which prevented them handing over a £100,000 advance - if Gretna can agree a plan to complete the season.

League officials had agreed to pay the cash in four weekly instalments but a clause forbids them to do so when a club falls into administration.

Elliot said: "They have also impressed upon me the integrity of the league and the integrity of the sport.

"What they mean is that if we were to field a 'youth team' it could affect the goal difference between Rangers and Celtic.

"Therefore I am mindful that we need to put out a strong senior team and that is what I am struggling to do."

Elliot is battling to keep the club going in the hope of finding a new Brooks Mileson, who bankrolled the club until falling ill with a brain infection last month.

Elliot made another plea today to Mileson's son Craig, Gretna's operations director, to continue the funding which has amounted to around £8million.

He said: "Without wishing to be unkind I have said to him I have no idea how seriously ill his father is, and I haven't pushed him on it, but I really feel he needs to be made aware the club he has spent so much time and money on is likely to be closed and if he wants to do something he has to do it now.

"Craig returned from the family home and there is no financial commitment coming from Mr Mileson."

Elliot revealed "two or three" parties had expressed interest in the club. Football agent Paul Davies wants to look at the books to determine whether he and partners Hume International could fund the club.

Elliot said: "That's why I would like to get through the game on Saturday and explore those opportunities. The club needs a benefactor, who, week-in and week-out, is going to fund it."

But he added: "What they don't know is the extent of the problem and what they would be - and I use the term loosely - investing in."

However, Elliot expressed gratitude for the attitude of the staff and others within football.

Motherwell have agreed to charge only a nominal fee if Gretna play any more matches at Fir Park.

But the administrator knows time is running out, with a bill of around £350,000 from the Crown and an £800,000 claim by former boss Rowan Alexander.

"I don't want to do something that would exclude any interested parties but I have to think about other creditors who have not been paid," Elliot said.

"The longer I trade I am making losses and I cannot do that long term. But I am not going to give up until the last minute."

The worst-case scenario would see the sale of Raydale Park, valued at £850,000 in the club accounts, to pay creditors.

But Gretna have another 24 hours - and a key meeting with SPL officials - to at least delay the death of the club.