Collins saga has the makings of a film

WISHFUL thinking is something I do a lot.

As a Chelsea fan pre-Abramovic, I grew up doing it. Now, as 'bowls wars' rages between Garry Collins and his opponents angered by the manner of the Commonwalth Games shortlist selection, I find myself endulging in more 'WT'.

How, can there be a happy ending with chief executive Collins surviving in some administration form and this normally most genteel of sports return to just that and not suffer long-term damage?

It's intriguing being in the middle of bowls wars which, if it carries on much longer, could spark a sequel to the brilliantly-funny Blackball film which takes a sideways look at the sport on the back of the true story of a top bowler, Griff Saunders, banned for 15 years.

The script writers of Blackball might well be very interested in the Collins saga, which appears will end with the Bowls Guernsey's chief executive facing a no-confidence motion at next month's AGM .

Ian Merrien, the sport's quiet, self-effacing president, could also go as Collins' opponents aim to make a fresh start.

It may well be wishful thinking on my part, but I really would like to see Collins survive in some form and hang around to take the sport forward.

In a short time, this young, hard-working civil servant has done much very good work for a sport probably needing more than a gentle kick up the behind.

But, I fear, his enthusiasm may have got the better of him.

Collins has too much power and instead of taking people with him through the art of argument and persuasion - football's Dave Dorey being an excellent example of such quality sporting leadership - he has simply barnstormed his way through and upset too many.

I still hold out hope but not my breath that Collins can stay involved.

Sport's such as bowls badly need the enthusiasm young administrators as him can provide.

n WATCHING Bels queue up to take potshots at Martel's Garden World World goalie Danny Legg is not what I had in mind when I drummed up the initial idea of a Guernsey FA Cup.

Scorelines such as 23-0 do the competition no favours, especially when they are backed up by two more double-figure hammerings in the same weekend.

But, football be warned, seed the competition and specifically the island's top sides, and you will risk killing the tournament in its infancy.

That said, Phil Corbet's idea of 'negative' seeding is not such a bad idea and should be looked at.

What has not helped is two successive dull first-round draws.

The FletcherSports FA Cup is no different from THE FA Cup, in that it needs dream ties.

But in terms of Guernsey football, such ties would involve top Priaulx sides being drawn together in the early stages, not like last weekend, the Priaulx leaders against a team of dubious fitness and ability from the second division of the Sunday League.

Ideally, what is required is a draw that ensures a few of the leading non GFA teams reach the latter stages. But that relies on the luck of the draw and, to date, the organisers have not picked out the right balls from the hat.

n PRESSURE is being put on the L'Ancresse golfing authorities to allow more locals to play on the links.

A ergonomist's survey has suggested the course could take up to 1,000 more rounds of per year.

I hope the L'Ancresse users show willingness to listen and act because if the official figures show more golf can be played there, then more golf should be played.

It's nothing short of scandalous that born-and-bred Guernsey people who are members at La Grande Mare or St Pierre Park, are prevented from paying a green-fee at L'Ancresse, but Joe Bloggs from the Royal Timbuktu is made welcome.