THE Guernsey Football Association could be back on collision course with the senior clubs after rejecting their plea for a 16 to 21 development league.
One leading club official said yesterday that rejection of the olive branch acceptance of 16 to 21 instead of the GFA’s proposed 16 to 23 league, would not go down well with the clubs and could spell trouble for the association.
A recent meeting of senior club representatives ended with agreement to support the GFA’s plans if the association agreed to the alteration of the ceiling age for the new league, which is intended to replace Jackson and Youth One.
But the GFA are not backing down. ‘We still believe in our reasoning which is included in a letter to the clubs,’ said GFA vice-president Jeff Vidamour (pictured). ‘We want to get it through as per plan.’
A statement released by the GFA says that the proposals are ‘in the best interests of the clubs’.
‘The GFA thinks ‘one man per club’ makes it difficult for clubs to predict playing numbers for the 2008/9 season and, therefore, in keeping the age group at 16 to 23, is offering maximum assistance to the clubs.
‘As the GFA has always said, this is a pilot and should 16 to 21 transpire to be a better age limit, there is no reason why this cannot be reviewed.’
In the letter sent to the clubs this week the GFA board outlined who should play in the development league and, with suggested guidelines, why.
While conceding it is up to the clubs to select their team ‘to serve its intended purpose the Development League players should meet the following criteria’:
‘1. Those playing regularly in Senior League structure should not be used.
2. Players approaching the upper age limit, i.e. 21, 22 and 23, who are unlikely to be good enough to play in the top division of the Senior League structure should not be used.
As a development league the players playing regularly between the age limits set should be those who the club wishes to retain because they may be good enough to play at the higher level in due course.
With the over-age player allowance, there is the opportunity for clubs to play more senior players (in terms of age) but this should be for one purpose only – to assist the development of the younger players by providing advice and guidance in a competitive game environment.’
Meanwhile, the GFA admits the operation of the proposed Develop-ment League is ‘in your [the clubs’] hands’.
The letter continues:
‘The ultimate aim of the GFA LBG board is to grow and retain the numbers of players in the game. As you know this was a target of the National Game Strategy and with your support we believe this can be achieved.
‘The GFA don’t rule out a review, if the new structure is a success and more players are retained within the game.
‘However the board believes that this should be done from a position of strength rather than in a time of uncertainty.’
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