Guernsey Press

‘Big Fal’ to plug the U18s coaching gap

COLIN FALLAIZE has been confirmed as the new island Under-18s coach – for this season anyway.

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Previous experience: Steve Sharman and Colin Fallaize in charge of the Island U18s in the Stranger Cup two seasons ago. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 17519687)

He temporarily succeeds Martin Scott, who quit the post back in the autumn, and his first game in charge of the group will be next week’s Stranger Cup qualifying group game against Bels.

Steve Sharman, who oversaw the interviewing process, yesterday explained the conundrum the GFA have faced in finding someone to take charge, but said that Fallaize was always going to plug the gap so he could ‘get the group energised again and establish new relationships with the clubs’.

Four men have been interviewed for the full-time job and two were discounted.

Mike Garnett was subsequently offered the role but having taken on part-time club roles with both Sylvans and Rangers was not keen to take it on full time.

One other, un-named coach, has been offered an opportunity to be mentored for the role, and that may come to fruition soon.

‘It’s been an open and transparent interview process,’ said Sharman, who said that Fallaize will take his first U18s coaching session this evening when the 2019 Stranger Cup kicks off at KGV with North playing Sylvans.

The westerners will again have Jacob Fallaize and Seb Smeed at the heart of their midfield, the two holidaying university students having made a difference as Sylvans pushed St Martin’s hard last Friday.

On Friday night Vale Rec play Rangers and in Saturday’s double-header on the artificial surface which stages the entire competition, Rovers play Saints at 2.30, followed by Red Lion against Bels at 5pm.