Innes eyes SPL stay

Former Gretna captain looks to the future

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 26th March 2008

innes chris

Innes: On the look out

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Former Gretna captain Chris Innes is keen to stay in the Scottish Premier League after being made redundant.

Innes was among nine members of the Gretna first-team squad who were axed by the club's administrators, Wilson Field.

And the 31-year-old former Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Falkirk and Dundee United defender is now keen to secure a new Scottish club before the summer.

"I'm certainly optimistic," Innes told Sky Sports News when asked if he would find a new club before the end of the season.

Opportunity

"I would like to stay in the SPL it would be a great opportunity to play the rest of my career there.

"When you are told that you are redundant it gives you a great opportunity to look elsewhere and impress a lot of managers and go down on trials if needs be."

Innes has also revealed that a number of Scottish clubs have already shown an interest in securing his services, but he also admits he could be tempted by a move to England.

"There is interest from various teams in Scotland and hopefully down south and you can just be optimistic," Innes continued. "I am prepared to go where ever and when ever.

Attraction

"The attraction of playing in England is there for everybody to see and I would jump at the chance.

"I have people working for me at the moment and my previous career at other SPL clubs stands me in good stead."

And Innes admits he fears for the future of cash-strapped Gretna and believes the club could have handled the situation in a better manner.

"They are in a very precarious position," Innes added. "There is no sign of the backing.

"The players are continually going out and being told they will get paid and then they won't get paid.

"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."