Bisson wants fresh challenge out west

DANNY BISSON is following his former club and island teammate Tristram Morgan to Sylvans. The former Vale Rec striker's transfer request was agreed to by Vale coach Ray Blondel on his return from holiday and went through yesterday.

Bisson admitted that he had lost his appetite for the game and hoped a change of setting would renew his enthusiasm for football.

'I have gone a little bit stale and I just want a fresh challenge,' said Bisson.

'I have spent most of my career at Rec - I had a short period at Saints as well - and I have a lot of friends down at the Corbet Field so it is hard to leave.

'But I have played six or seven games this season, scored only four goals and I have not really been in it. I think I just need a new start. After winning the title last season, it was always going to be a difficult year for us this time.'

Bisson hit 20 goals last season in the same number of starts, 16 of them coming in the green-and-yellows' Priaulx League title-winning campaign.

That form made him a regular member of the island squad and earned him a starting place in the Muratti Vase final - where he scored in the 3-3 draw at Foote's Lane - and in the replay at Springfield.

The 27-year-old also won an Island Games gold medal, starting the first two games of Guernsey's campaign, which included a hat-trick against Orkney and coming on as a substitute in the semi-final and final.

But Bisson has been lacklustre so far this season.

However, he was eager to point out that the move was no reflection on Vale boss Ray Blondel.

'I have the utmost respect for Ray. He is a fantastic man-manager, an excellent coach and he also carries my golf bag in the summer.

'This is just a personal decision. I still feel that I have got a part to play for the island and pastures new might help me achieve that,' he said.

Bisson will link up once more with Morgan, now the player-coach at St Peter's, with whom he formed an excellent understanding last season when Morgan was outstanding in the Vale midfield. That factor played a major part in establishing where Bisson felt he would be happiest.

'Trim is a very good friend of mine and we built up a good relationship on the pitch last year - he must have set up about 75% of my goals.

'But I know a lot of the players there as well and when I was playing up front with Ryan Tippett for the island, we did very well together.

'Of course, they have also got the likes of Adie Exall and Neil Clegg, so there is good competition for places,' Bisson said.

Lying fourth in the Priaulx table, Sylvans are playing catch-up but Bisson believes the westerners are still very capable of challenging for the title, but 'they have got to play well'.

'Obviously, Sylvans' main aim is the league. They have had a slow start but at the moment they are not in a bad position and you have got to play every team four times this season, which is a major factor,' he said.