THE Track has staged its last Muratti Vase final. That is certainly how it looks after last night’s Guernsey Football Association council decision to stick with Foote’s Lane for the Centenary Muratti next May.

Council voted by 12 votes to two to play the inter-insular in front of a targeted all-seater crowd of 5,000. Rangers, who had put forward the proposition to take the game back to the Track, and Belgraves, were the only two clubs to vote against Foote’s Lane.

Dave Dorey was a relieved GFA president after the meeting, having feared a return to the comparatively run-down Track would scupper his own hopes of taking the game forward.

‘Obviously I’m delighted that the decision has been taken and pleasantly surprised that only two clubs voted against.

‘I look forward to working with [match sponsors] Cherry Godfrey and the Inter-Insular Committee,’ he added.

Dorey would not be drawn on the issue of whether the days of the Track staging the biggest match in CI football have gone for good, but his comments suggest that he suspects it may have.

‘I’m absolutely certain that if we can make it succeed there [Foote's Lane] there will not be a second thought of going back to the Track.’

The vote was taken after only a short debate, most clubs and any other doubters obviously having been swung towards staying at Foote’s Lane following Cherry Godfrey’s impressive recent presentation.

‘I think it is fair to say that people were persuaded by the presentation,’ said GFA secretary Matt Fallaize.

‘It is important now that we all pull together and try to reach this 5,000 audience target; 12-2 is pretty resounding,’ he added.

Criticism of Foote’s Lane as a football venue has been rife since the hurriedly-staged 2003 Muratti at the ground.

A big crowd flocked to the newly-completed stadium only to see Guernsey concede two late goals in extra-time and the home crowd go home disappointed.

Other than those seated in the 750-seat Garenne Stand spectators complained of simply being too far away from the action, the running track and steel barriers preventing them from moving closer.

A major petition instigated by the late Nigel Gavey gathered support for taking the game back to the Track, but Cherry Godfrey’s recently unveiled plans to erect temporary stands on the far touchline and behind the goals has swung opinion back to Foote’s Lane where the pitch is regarded as the best available in the island.