GUERNSEY footballers are set for another Rhodes U-turn. Tough new conditions laid down by the Guernsey Football Association, which the players will have to meet to go to next year’s Island Games are already turning off key squad members.
Yesterday, a number of star players told the Guernsey Press they would not be going on what the GFA was now making a two-week trip, costing up to £1,000 a head.
Squad members need to pay £500 by the end of October.
Island captain and players’ spokesman Matt Warren yesterday admitted it was by no means certain the men would be going, purely on financial grounds.
‘We are going to have to see how we will get a lot of money together in the next two weeks or we won’t get enough players to go,’ said Warren.
”Manager’ Steve’s ‘Ogier’ looking for an answer from all of the players in the next couple of weeks. With one big hit ‘£500′ by the end of October, it is going to be hard. It’s a lot of money, so soon.’
Key strikers Jon Veron and Dave Rihoy, both of North, blamed finance for their decision to pull out.
‘I don’t want to go down as having a bad attitude, but I’m not going because of the money and the holidays,’ said Veron.
‘It’s too much time off from work. Quite a few from the North aren’t going. If it was for just a week, they’d go.’
Rihoy said: ‘It’s too expensive. We’ve got to pay for the South West Counties as well and by the end of the year we will have had to pay £1,500. It’s a hobby, after all.’
Other players who will not be taking part in the Games are Northerners Olly McKenzie and Darren Martin and the Bels duo of Joby Bourgaize and Sam Cochrane.
The GFA has asked the players to get confirmation from a doctor that they can start a tough training regime before the Games, another stating they cope with the demands of a week’s football in Rhodes and also to sign a waiver of liability excluding the GFA from any blame should they suffer in the heat.
The squad for Rhodes has to be confirmed by the end of October. If it is deemed not good enough, the GFA will withdraw again.
Tony Vance, assistant to the island manager and acting in his role as Island Games football co-ordinator, said he was concerned at the number of confirmed withdrawals but was not giving up hope of getting a suitable squad together.
‘I’m concerned that the balance of the squad won’t be right.
‘The key for Steve and myself is getting the balance right. If only 18 defenders say yes to going, it’s not going to happen.’
Article posted on 26th September, 2006 - 12.00am
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