THE Business House League has decided to split from the Guernsey Football Association. At their AGM on Thursday evening, the social league’s clubs unanimously voted to go their own way from next season.
They will be called the IAG Saturday Football League. The decision deals a massive blow to the GFA. ‘It’s sad that there is a split, but we’re looking forward to the season [ahead],’ said the league’s president, Rod Hamon (pictured).
The move comes in light of the GFA’s controversial five-year plan. The main stumbling block for the Business League and their fellow social league, the Sunday Soccer League, was the ‘one man, one club’ ruling. Under the new rules, a player at a GFA club can only play for that club and therefore not be able to play for a club in the social leagues.
However, in a bid to keep the Business and Sunday Leagues affiliated to the GFA, the Association’s new chairman, Mark Le Tissier, offered a compromise to allow five players from every social league side to also be able to play for a social club in the other weekend league.
Hamon says that this was discussed at the AGM but the clubs turned down the proposal as they said they would have more than five players in a team that would want to play elsewhere.
Hamon appreciated the Le Tissier’s effort to keep them involved, but he felt that the damage was already done.
‘We’re extremely grateful to the GFA,’ he said.
‘They’ve come in and spoke to us at every stage, but our league is democratic [and this is the decision of the clubs]. I think Mark has come in too late and he’s tried to steady a ship that was already off course.’
The split has some serious repercussions for the new league.
Any player or official from a GFA club cannot be involved with it and referees who are affiliated to the English FA, will not be allowed to officiate their games.
The league also loses administration services of the GFA such as disciplinary procedures and insurance.
Hamon said that they are setting up their own discipline structure and that they are looking into the insurance issue.
He also said that they have seven rebel referees prepared to oversee their matches.
The Saturday Football League has also picked up two new members from the GFA in Port City and the Police Club.
Port City will be one of the seven sides in the league’s first division, while Police will be one of the six in the second tier.
With Port City joining it means that the league will have the use of the KGV football pitch as well.
This takes the number of pitches available to them up to five, with Cambridge Park, Delancey Park and the two at Beau Sejour also theirs.
The business league season kicks off on Saturday 13 September.
Le Tissier declined to comment on the matter other than saying that the GFA will be meeting soon to discuss it.
The Sunday Soccer League have their AGM on Thursday 31 July when they will decide to remain affiliated to the GFA or not.
Article posted on 19th July, 2008 - 9.30am
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One Article Comment
many of us knew that the gfa would be totally relient on the fa when they were tempted by the big money,to pay salaries,the gfa now has to run football to suit the fa,not to suit local football. It is sad when you read people being belittled,after devoting many years to the game.So it is no surprise, that the game we love,is falling apart.The gfa need to reconsider, and attempt to sort out the mess they have made.Please also refrain from having a go at people, who give there time freely