Island star Dominic Heaume (left).

NOT all involved in Guernsey football are convinced that FA funding for the future of Guernsey football would be scrapped if the GFA’s proposals are rejected.
The board had threatened to resign en masse if its plans do not get approved – even before GFA president Dave Nussbaumer had resigned.
‘The FA have not said they would stop funding – that is a red herring,’ clamed accountant Paul Le Cocq, 61, the vice-president of Sylvans, prior to the club’s meeting on the issues.
‘At the end of it, there will always be somebody prepared to run Guernsey football. If the GFA directors decide to resign, there are people who, at a push, would be prepared to look at it. Part of the problem has been the threats, but you don’t need to make threats, you just need to talk. We should be working together and not against each other,’ he warned.
‘The GFA probably took a bit of a bull at the gate approach.’
He, like the majority, acknowledges change is required for the good of the game of football in Guernsey.
‘I don’t think it’s dying, but it did need a bit of a revamp,’ said Le Cocq, who is also Sylvans’ minis co-ordinator.
The GFA’s plans have attracted both criticism and backing – but look likely to get the overall nod.
‘I would guess that, subject to their proposed changes to bring the development league to 16 to 21s, my gut feeling is they may squeeze it through,’ said Le Cocq.
‘Speaking as an individual and not from the club perspective, I think it would be wrong to take the big package as a whole. I don’t think perhaps there has been enough compromise on both sides and you need more discussion without threats from both sides and I think that has been the problem,’ he said.
He would have liked to have seen better communication between all the parties.
‘There are a lot of good things in their proposals but there are some things that could have done with a bit more dialogue with the clubs and they have probably done it a season too early.
‘If there had been more discussion with the clubs and they had started talking now for the 2009-10 season, things could have been sorted out. They could have got the Sunday Soccer League and Business League on their side,’ said Le Cocq, who has been involved with Sylvans since the age of 15.
Former Tranmere professional Ryan Tippett is all in favour of a 16-21 development league.
‘GFA football has gone stale and needs a revamp. I think the 16-to-21 age group will encourage more to carry on when they are 17 rather than go their own way. It’s a good proposal and I’m all for it. It’s for the development of our kids. The Jackson League has to suffer, which is a nothing league at the moment,’ he said.
Guernsey Muratti player Dominic Heaume, 24, said he believes football definitely needs change but does not believe there are enough players around to cover a one-club rule and he fears it could kill off a lot of players who play both GFA and social football.
‘I understand the reasons why people play the social leagues. They should have something for people who want to take it more seriously and allow people to play in both,’ he said.
He believes it is worth giving the development league a go, but is not necessarily all for structure league changes at the top level.
‘It will just mean more meaningless games in the Priaulx and the teams that do come up, I don’t think they will be competitive enough against the teams in the Priaulx.’
He believes football at top level has ‘just plateaued out’ in the last three or four seasons and it needs to change.