Sylvans, including island stars such as Eleanor Holden (right), maintained a 100% winning record throughout their successful league campaign, but the local game was not stimulated by the GFA’s changes as they had hoped. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0684902)

THE Guernsey Football Association has admitted that the changes to the women’s game are not working.

As part of their four-year plan for football in the island, the GFA made a number changes to the women’s game including making the matches nine versus nine with rolling substitutes on three-quarter sized pitches and reducing the season.

The GFA brought in these ideas to stimulate more interest and increase the number of players, which has been dropping off over the last few years.

But in a report that the GFA has produced on the first six months of the plan, they said that they were disappointed with the limited effect they have had.

‘They have not helped getting people on the pitch,’ said GFA county secretary Neil Laine. ‘There’s not enough good players in the island. There is a base of 30 to 40 players.

‘We need to get to this up to 130-140 to make the league more competitive.’