THE island team could revolt in the face of the Guernsey Football Association’s decision not to enter them in next year’s Rhodes Island Games. The GFA executive committee made the ruling on Monday evening.

‘The board of directors had a meeting last night and the decision was upheld from the previous meeting of council not to send a team to Rhodes,’ said GFA director of commercial sponsorship and PR Steve Dewsnip yesterday.

The announcement was met with dismay by island captain Matt Warren.

‘It’s a joke.’ he said.

‘It’s absolutely scandalous and it’s a backward step for Guernsey football. For myself, I’m gutted as it’s the biggest thing we’ve got to look forward to and it’s been taken away.

‘They say it’s in our best interests but they haven’t spoken to us about it. We’re absolutely fuming and pretty much flabbergasted that we’re not going and we haven’t been told the reasons why.

‘We’re meeting up [today] about it. We’re not sure what we’re going to do.

‘We’re going to have a chat and then off the back of that we’re going to come to a decision to do something, but we’ll have to see.’

Two factors have seemingly influenced the GFA decision.

Firstly, there were security fears after the last time that Rhodes and Guernsey played each other in the 2003 Island Games, when six players were sent off amid ugly scenes at the Corbet Field.

Secondly, there were health worries over playing five matches in six days in temperatures over 30C.

Bels and Guernsey striker Neil Clegg, who has played in the last two Games, thinks that some of the team might not turn out for the South and West Counties matches in the new year after this development.

‘I’ve spoken to a few of the boys and everyone is really unhappy about the decision,’ said the 29-year-old.

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‘I think the way people are thinking is that they have to pay £75 to go to the South and West and they will see this and think, ﾓwhy should I go if you’re not going to let me go to Rhodes?ﾔ. That’s a possibility with some players.’

Island coach Steve Ogier declined to comment on the situation and refused to say whether he would resign.

His predecessor and current St Martin’s number one Colin Fallaize was a vocal critic last week of the possibility of Guernsey not going but said he respects the decision.

‘To be honest, it’s very straightforward,’ he said.

‘I’m disappointed but we’ve got people in those positions to make these types of decision. I respect that these people have made the decision and we’ve got to accept it.

‘That’s all I want to say. I’ve been controversial.’