THE Sunday and Business leagues have decided to split from the Guernsey Football Association and go out by themselves in response to the GFA’s new five-year plan.
The two organisations held separate meetings on Monday night to discuss the plan, which from next season would have seen the two social leagues absorbed into a new four-divisional Priaulx League. Both meetings had a high turnout, with more than 30 people attending each and there was a unanimous decision at both to go their own way.
It is understood that both leagues have told their member clubs not to comment to the media about the issue and that all statements must go through their respective committee. ‘The statement from the Business League is that we’ll not be applying for affiliation to the GFA for next season and we’ll be setting our own league up,’ said the Business League president Rod Hamon (pictured).
‘We’ll run football on a social level. We’ve got the basis of it.
‘I just want to see people play football and if they enjoy playing on Saturday and Sunday and they can’t train during the week because they have a social life, then why shouldn’t they?’
Hamon pointed out that the main bone of contention for the social league was the proposal that under the new Priaulx League, a player can be registered to only one club.
He stated that 60 to 70% of the players in the Business and Sunday leagues play in both for different teams.
‘All our members in the Business League unanimously decided that we wouldn’t be applying to be affiliated to the GFA for next season on the grounds they don’t want the one-man, one-club rule,’ said Hamon.
‘That’s what knackered it.’
SSL president Keith Robins said his league felt the same way.
‘All I can say from what was decided was that we’d de-affiliate with the GFA and try and work with the Saturday [Business] league under one umbrella,’ he said.
‘It’s because of this one-man, one-club. I just feel it’s very unfair and so do a lot of other people. It’s very unfair and we don’t like it.’
Word coming from the social leagues is that the ‘one man-one club’ proposal is against basic human rights in that it restricts a person as to how much football they can play.
Hamon also said the Business League was happy to discuss the issue with the GFA, but he does not think the latter will change its stance.
‘The door is always open for discussions but I can’t see them backing down on the one-man, one-club,’ he said.
The GFA has responded by pointing out that if the social leagues split away, then there would be a number of sanctions against them.
They would not be able to play their matches on any of the GFA affiliated clubs’ pitches or have any GFA registered linesmen or referees officiate them.
Also GFA-registered players would not be able to play in the leagues and any player playing in the breakaway leagues would not then be allowed to play for a GFA club or play in any GFA-affiliated leagues such as five-a-side.
Clubs in the new social leagues would also not be allowed to enter GFA competitions, namely the Fletcher Sports Guernsey FA Cup.
GFA vice-chairman Jeff Vidamour said the association’s executive board is meeting on Tuesday night when the matter will be discussed.
It is also keen to meet the two leagues.
‘Quite obviously we want to have some discussions with them on the basis that they don’t fully understand what is on the table,’ he said.
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