THERE were tears from players when Steve Ogier told the island women’s team of his decision to step down as coach. Following a successful time at the Island Games that saw Guernsey finish seventh, Ogier, who took over the role in August, announced his departure to his team in Rhodes.

It is understood that the news greatly upset some of them.

Alongside running the female side, Ogier has also been in charge of the island men.

It became apparent that the two roles combined were too much work and he also said that he had taken on the women only on a short-term basis.

‘It was always on the understanding that I was going to do it for a year and then I’d look at it,’ he said.

‘It was never long-term, what with me doing the men as well. To be honest, the girls have improved.

‘Their understanding of the game is better and perhaps they will improve a bit more, but I feel I can’t progress them any more or teach them any more things. I’ve taken them as far as I can.’

It is widely regarded that the women have taken great strides under Ogier.

Last season they entered the South and West Counties Championship for the first time and, even though they were unable to register a win, they did better than expected.

In Rhodes, they picked up victories over the Western Isles and Greenland, whom they beat in the seventh-eighth play-off. Aland were crowned the champions.

‘It would have been nice to finish fifth or sixth but I think that seventh is a fair reflection of our standard,’ said Ogier.

‘They certainly didn’t let themselves down. We were not up with the top three, but against all the other islands we gave them a good game.

‘It’s been interesting. There’s been some good points and some low points as well with the squad over the 10 months.

‘But, generally, I think that the penny has dropped with them all that they need to be a team, they need to be together. I don’t think they had that at the start, but credit to them with the combination of the South and West Counties and working with them the last few months, they now know that they need to pull together and we saw that in Rhodes.

‘I just wish them all the best for the future.’

Rochelle Vaudin, who was Guernsey’s star player at the Games, was sad to see him go.

‘You can see how much we’ve come on in a year,’ she said.

‘But he says we’ve gone as far as we can as a team with the ability in the team and I’d say that was a fair statement. He’s also got the men’s and the women’s team so he’s not got any time to himself. He’s a very good coach. I like the way he’s top of the game over here and he obviously knows his stuff.

‘He treated us like football players and not like women trying to play football. I’m definitely going to miss him. He’s a good bloke.’

However, Vaudin also admitted that the Ogier reign had not been all roses.

‘He had his moments when he first took over,’ she said.

‘He found some of the women difficult because we moaned at everything – typical women.’

Island football physio Mike Thomas will also be stepping down from the women’s team to concentrate on the men with the Guernsey Football Association seeking to bring in a new physio to work with the women.

‘I am extremely grateful for how far Steve has taken the ladies’ team in such a short period of time,’ said GFA chairman Dave Nussbaumer.

‘He has been a revelation and the performance and effort the team put in are testament to his dedication and he has taken the game to another level since the previous Island Games.

‘We are also indebted to Mike Thomas whose contribution has been superb and I can’t thank both of them enough for their contribution to women’s football in Guernsey.’

The GFA have already started their search for a top-level coach to replace Ogier and will be looking for someone of the same ilk to take on the role, with a level-two qualification being the minimum expectation for the new manager.