GFA end painful search for sec.

NEIL LAINE, the former Vale Rec and Muratti midfielder, is the GFA's new full-time secretary, filling a position that had been left vacated for virtually all of last season. 'We are delighted that Neil has agreed to join us on a full-time basis and are looking forward to working with him,' said Chris Schofield, the GFA director responsible for youth development and staff matters.

'This is an exciting time for the development of the local game and Neil's existing contacts and good knowledge of Guernsey football will be of great benefit to us as we continue to move forward,' he added.

GFA president Dave Nussbaumer was a relieved man after a long season in which the game has felt the pressure of operating without a full-time administrator.

'We have had a challenging year but now, with a new team in place and solid foundations from which to push forward, the future of local football is bright once again,' he said.

Laine, who played in Vale Rec championship-winning sides of the 1980s and won four Muratti caps between 1983 and 1989, starts his new role from the start of July, at the end of a transfer window which this week has seen North lose four players to Sylvans and, now, a likely fifth to champions Bels.

Naro Zimmerman, the central defender who played at the heart of the Guernsey defence in this year's Junior Muratti, is returning to his former club.

'I've heard he's going back to Bels,' confirmed new North boss, Micky Le Prevost.

'It's a shame but I can't do anything about it. I won't force anyone to stay at the football club,' he added.

After last week picking up the signing of striker Simon Tostevin and this week the club's former junior star of a decade ago, Matt Dorrian, Le Prevost's squad is lighter than it was 10 days ago.

He says he was disappointed to lose Paul de Garis, Tom Duff and Sam Matthews, but not surprised to learn that the former was joining his brother at Sylvans.