Highly-respected island coach Jeff Stuart (shaven head) gives a team talk during the 2007 Island Games in Rhodes. Guernsey will forego Aland in the summer and look to enter the National League in September. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0457217)

Guernsey’s men’s basketball team are not going to the Island Games.

In an exclusive interview with the Guernsey Press, the side’s award-nominated coach Jeff Stuart explained the reasons behind the monumental decision.

‘After consultation with members of the Collas Day island men’s squad, it was felt that serious consideration was needed over whether we went ahead with Aland or whether we attempted to take the men’s game into a new direction,’ he said.

‘The costs per player were approaching £1,000 and, while the Island Games is a significant event in the calendar of Guernsey sports, we made consideration as to whether the costs would be prohibitive to development of the team as a whole and also to the men’s game in Guernsey.’

He went on to say that his side will look to follow in the footsteps of the island’s women’s team and join the lower echelons of the National League, possibly Division Four South-West, from September.

They will use the money saved by not going to the Games to help fund the venture.