Buy-out nears as does GTTA bid to move in

TABLE TENNIS could soon have an islandwide base at the Guernsey Bowls Stadium. The likely takeover of the building by GIBA Holdings Ltd will, Inside Sport learns, hasten the day arguably the island's fastest growing sport moves lock, stock and barrel to the home of indoor bowls.

Last weekend's EGM of Guernsey Stadiums Ltd recommended shareholders to accept the offer of £1.50 per share being made by GIBA Holdings.

The result of the prospective £400,000 buy-out will not be known for a while, but the inside word is that the deal will almost certainly be struck.

GIBA Holdings and the major tenants, bowls, are keen to have table tennis occupying all of the original four-rink area of this splendid sports facility.

With bowls membership down and rinks sitting empty Whistlers Table Tennis Club moved in two years ago and have since been followed by smaller clubs, St Paul's and Panthers.

Between them they utilise half of the original building, while a similar sized area remains unused - for now.

The Guernsey Table Tennis Association stage a crucial meeting to discuss their future next week, but bowls want them in.

Charlie Renouf, president of the Guernsey Indoor Bowling Association, would welcome the GTTA into the Hougue du Pommier fold.

'There's no doubt about it, we've got a great relationship with the table tennis.

'We've accepted them 100%. We've had no problems whatsoever. It has worked a treat.'

Renouf does not envisage any problems, but GTTA officials are reluctant to speak on the issue at present.

The deal to bring GTTA into the Guernsey Bowls Stadium is thought to involve the sale of Lions' Maurepas Road HQ.

n*FAR from me to decry a colleague, but Matt Fallaize is wrong to suggest (page 36) that school footballers are getting a rum deal.

Secondary schools sports teachers made a brave, but correct move to introduce fringe sports into the curriculum and I cannot see how a three-match reduction in the league schedule can in any way be harmful.

Indeed, how many times do I hear our best young footballers must be protected and not play so much.

Football cannot have it both ways. Rugby and hockey have been major beneficiaries from the decision to cut the schools football programme and those sports deserve the support of the schools.

Their own sports are every bit as important than football, which should not be given preferential treatment. Tradition should have nothing to do with it.

In the 21st century young boys and girls want to seek a variety of sporting avenues and thrusting football or netball down their throats all the time severely restricts the wonderful recreational opportunities open to us locally.

Consider all those boys and girls who are not good enough to get into the school football or netball team. The chance to represent their school at rugby, for instance, provides kudos to many an individual who, in the dark days of a traditional football, hockey and cricket term, would have otherwise been largely forgotten.