GFA ‘confident’ of a positive outcome

That’s the view of Guernsey Football Association director Steve Sharman who says that the GFA are confident of a positive outcome from the imminent open planning meeting due at the end of this month.

The largely English FA-funded project has already been held up by several months to the extent that the stadium would not be ready for use in the NatWest Island Games staged locally in 2021.

‘I think it’s pretty common knowledge that it is now going to an open planning meeting and we [at GFA] are very positive about that,’ said Sharman.

‘The way GFA and planning have worked together is to address what people come forward with.

‘I think we are confident that all the project concerns have been addressed and cornered off. We are not over confident but confident we can deal with any issues brought forward.’

Meanwhile, Sharman has allayed fears that FA funding would be withdrawn due to the delays.

‘As far as funding goes we are still in the [six-month] funding cycle for this year.

‘There was a concern that it would be pulled back. That it hasn’t is really good news and the funding is still in place.’

• More in Wednesday's Guernsey Press.