Port City in action against Sylvans last year.
PORT CITY are set to leave the Guernsey Football Association for the breakaway social leagues and the Police Club could follow suit.
The well established GFA club currently ply their trade in the Railway League. Their president, Nigel Staples, was present at the Business and Sunday leagues’ meetings on Monday evening.
With their clubs voting unanimously in favour of leaving the GFA in the light of the association’s five-year plan which would radically change the sport in the island, the two leagues have decided to create their own ‘rebel’ competition. City could join the new Business League.
‘We’re now considering our options and we’re calling a special meeting with our players when we are going to decide where we’re going to play our football,’ said Staples.
‘We’re not happy and I don’t want to pour scorn on the plans – I think they were done with the best of intentions – but what the GFA has failed to appreciate is that the funding [it receives from the English FA] doesn’t filter down to us so excuse me if I don’t jump on board.
‘I certainly expect to see a lot of support as a lot of guys want to play two games of football at a weekend.’
According to Staples, another reason for leaving the Railway is the fees involved.
Staples says they pay £1,600 a season which covers all the costs for running matches such as paying for referees and to fly to Alderney to play the Bavaria Nomads.
He says joining the Business League would cost between £550 and £600 a season.
‘I feel that we will be better served in the Business League,’ said Staples.
‘I’m happy to look at it. We’re concerned about the future of our club within the new GFA structure.’
Fellow Railway League outfit Police Club also share those concerns.
Their coach, Phil Breban, said if they did not join the Business League they could go to the wall.
‘I’ve not spoken to all the players, but basically the one player, one team [rule] will seriously affect us because a lot of our players do play Sunday League and that could see the Police team fold,’ said Breban.
‘We’re considering our future, whether it be in the GFA or the Business League.’
Another team weighing up their options is Specsavers.
The coach of the best team in the Business League, Simon Martel, had gone on the record saying that they would be keen in joining the new Priaulx League.
But at the Business League meeting on Monday night they voted in favour of the ‘rebel leagues’.
Martel declined to say too much as the social leagues’ clubs have been asked not to give any comment to the media.
However, he did say that Specsavers were biding their time.
‘We’ve left the door open,’ he said.
‘We’ve backed the league in what they want to do as it was clear that that was the way it was going to go. But we’re going to sit back, keep a low profile and see what happens.
‘From my own view, I’m a little bit disappointed as I thought it was the way to go forward, but I can see the other side of the argument.’
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