THE GFA have moved to justify the reasons behind the decision not to send a women’s football team to the 2011 Island Games in the Isle of Wight.

Mike Kinder, speaking on behalf of the board, said: ‘There was a review by the board of last year’s results in the Island Games and the Muratti, and they weren’t very encouraging. We felt the players there were not going to take us to a new level.

‘The focus is on the new development programme starting in schools and with new leagues.

‘If we start focusing on the youngsters now they’ll be more capable of coping with Island Games standard opposition in the future.’

Kayley Marquis (pictured), the island captain, said that as long as they get the extra games the GFA are talking about, she won’t be so upset about missing the Games.

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