GFA makes grovelling apology to SWD

THE Guernsey Football Association has been forced to make a grovelling apology to the States Works Department. SWD general manager Dave Parish was furious when senior football officials alleged that States groundsman Peter Jackson was not looking after club pitches as he was supposed to ahead of the Island Games.

A well-publicised agreement stated that Jackson would offer advice and carry out remedial work to ensure that the Track, the Corbet Field, Blanche Pierre Lane and Northfield were in a fit state to stage the Games. At a GFA council meeting on 16 January, the SWD was accused by club delegates and a member of the executive of not sticking to the terms of that contract.

Parish was livid that the GFA had called into question Jackson's integrity and asked the association to make a public climbdown.

GFA chief executive Dave Dorey apologised to the SWD in a letter to Parish dated 29 January.

'I must immediately point out that the comments were made by individuals and do not represent the views of the GFA or its executive committee,' said Dorey.

'On behalf of the GFA, and inasmuch as the remarks may have been construed as being attributable to the GFA, I offer unreserved apologies.

'We very much regret any implication that the SWD or any of its employees may have been in any way responsible for not carrying out work on GFA club pitches that they were contractually bound to do.

'This is most certainly not the case and I regret that I was not present at the meeting to make this immediately clear.'

Dorey said he doubted whether these misunderstandings would have arisen had it not been for the sad loss of Martyn Le Prevost last November.

'Tony Blondel has been appointed to succeed Martyn as Island Games football organiser and he will now be our only spokesman on Island Games issues.'

Dorey added that he found it difficult to understand how the remarks attributed to individual GFA club members could have been made.

'Clearly, a little research and one or two telephone calls would have provided all of the answers. Inasmuch as I am able to apologise on their behalf, I do so now.'

The chief executive has assured the SWD that the GFA has every confidence in the department and in particular Peter Jackson, whose expertise and advice they 'are most grateful for.'

Dorey said that claims that the SWD had broken the terms of its agreement with the GFA were 'nonsense' and pleaded with council delegates to 'think a little more before making unfounded allegations'.

Blondel will extend an invitation to Jackson to sit on his Island Games football organising committee, which met for the first time last night.