Who wants the job?

MOST of the leading candidates have already ruled themselves out of succeeding Phil Corbet as island coach. But Sylvans boss Richard Packman and caretaker island coach Colin Fallaize did not dismiss taking over next season.

Corbet quit on Easter Saturday, only two weeks before the Muratti and just 10 weeks before the Island Games.

His dramatic decision was unexpected and the Guernsey Football Assoc-iation was left with little option but to appoint Fallaize, Corbet's assistant, to lead Guernsey through the Muratti and the Games.

Four of the front runners for the post moved quickly to dismiss speculation linking them with the top job in local football.

Vale Rec coach Ray Blondel, his Corbet Field predecessor Chris Hamon, junior island coach Tony Vance and ex-island boss Alan Le Prevost all denied that they would want to succeed Corbet.

'I'm not interested one little bit. I definitely don't want it,' said Blondel. He said it would be fair to state that he would never want to be island coach.

Hamon said: 'I would certainly rule out taking the island manager's job.

'If the GFA came to me and told me that the job was mine if I wanted it, I would have to say no because of my work and family commitments. If someone required assistance in the job, I might be tempted to consider that, but I couldn't give the number one job the time it merits.'

Vance said that he would not be prepared to step up from his junior island role. He said that he was too inexperienced to take the top job.

Le Prevost, still the only island coach to lead Guernsey to back-to-back Muratti wins during a four-year stint in charge over a decade ago, said that he did not want to return to the post. 'I think I'd have to say no. And I don't think I'd be wanted now in any case,' said Le Prevost.

'I achieved what I wanted to with the island and I think to go do it again would be a backward step for me and for the island team.'

Le Prevost added: 'I'm sorry to see Phil go in one way because overall I think he's done a good job. It's bad timing in one respect, but it was probably time for a new face. With all due respect to Phil, maybe he did a year too long.'

However, Packman, who is widely tipped to quit St Peter's this summer, was more guarded than his contemporaries and seemed to suggest that he would consider taking over.

'I really can't say anything because I'm still in the Sylvans job at the moment. I'm yet to take time to reflect on this season and until I do that I can't comment on next season,' said Packman.

'I'm shocked that Phil has gone and I wouldn't be pompous enough to write in and put myself forward.'

But Packman refused to rule himself out when pressed on the subject.

And Fallaize, who was previously understood to be less than enthusiastic about accepting the job long-term, yesterday maintained a facade of neutrality.

'I haven't given it any thought,' he said. 'I can't comment on things past the end of this season.

'If I talked to you about my gut instinct, I might lead you down a false path that might change and I wouldn't want to do that.'

Should the GFA want to make an audacious move, they could turn to ex-Jersey coach Ron Harris, who yesterday expressed strong interest in taking over.

'If the opportunity came up, I'd be very interested. I'd like to get back to the sort of thing I was doing with Jersey and I think Bob Kearsey and I did very well in that job.'

Colin Renouf, one of the island's greatest players and previously coach of Sylvans and St Martin's, was also linked with the post yesterday. He was unavailable for comment, but has to be regarded as an outsider.