Escape saves GFC/GFA a fortune

It will also give Guernsey FC boss Tony Vance some sounder sleeps in the coming days and weeks.

Vance yesterday spoke of his pride in the group and what he is already planning for next season.

‘The squad has been fantastic in showing terrific commitment. And I’m really pleased we did it [survive] on merit.’

Ultimately, GFC finished three points ahead of Greenwich Borough, who were soundly beaten at home by Hastings United, while the Green Lions came back from the dead to grab a point at Sittingbourne.

Vance said that while he was confident of a positive outcome, he was constantly checking his Twitter service every 10 minutes.

‘I always felt Hastings would have too much for Greenwich and because Greenwich had to chase the game I thought it was stacked in our favour. I’m relieved, though, that our tactical approach to surviving with four games left to play has paid off.’

Meanwhile, the repercussions of a relegation are now becoming all too apparent.

‘If we had got relegated it would have cost us [the GFC-GFA-Victoria Avenue project] £50k in terms of funding.

‘We would have only been able to receive £100k from the FA instead of £150k,’ he said in relation to the FA’s ground development grant.

‘Also if we had gone back to the Combined Counties the financial impact on us would have been much higher,’ he added.

Naturally, Vance is already thinking ahead to a new Bostik campaign and that will involve, he hopes, retaining UK-based keeper Cal Stanton and securing a 30-goal-a-season striker.

‘I’m going to sit back and reflect and analyse the season on the pitch, but from the playing group point of view it is imperative that we have the likes of Callum and a striker who can find the net 20 to 30 times a season.’

Vance says he is hoping that a returning Robbie Legg and Will Fazakerley can kick on and alleviate the goals problem, but if Ross Allen is not to return, finding a striker to match those to be found elsewhere in the division is, he says, a must.

‘Cal wants to commit to us again, but if a bigger club comes in tomorrow...?,’ Vance posed a question he does not know the answer to.

‘He is imperative for us and if we want to do better we need to get that 30-goals-a-season man. They are the two most important positions in football – goal-getter and goalkeeper.’