FA say ‘no’ to rule curbing GFC men
ATTEMPTS to stop Guernsey FC players stepping into domestic football without serving a cooling off period have been thwarted by the FA.
To improve the integrity of all local league and cup competition, Guernsey Football League Management successfully introduced a new ‘three-game rule’ which stops regular Priaulx League players dropping into Lancaster One to fill spots and similarly in Lancaster Divisions One to Two and Two to Three.
The rule was planned to be extended for GFC players who, in recent seasons, have occasionally stepped into the Priaulx League while serving a suspension from Isthmian competition.
‘We’ve been told by the FA that a GFC player can’t be restricted,’ said GFLM chairman Phil Corbet.
‘You cannot issue a restriction outside your competition,’ said Corbet.
‘Yes, I am disappointed because it would have given the league and clubs more integrity over the selection of players. But we understand it [the decision] and respect it because it is part of the FA rules.’
Corbet said that the Dorset Premier League have had similar concerns regarding players dropping down into their competition at the drop of a hat and skewing the integrity of the competition.
But, ironically, the rejection of the GFLM move comes at a time when it is becoming ever more likely that the Green Lions squad will have only domestic football to interest them for some time yet.
The Isthmian League may well be due to start on 12 September but given the Covid-19 flare-ups in the UK and sudden tightening of restrictions on the mainland, it seems highly unlikely that the local health authorities will allow Guernsey FC or their opposition to fly in and out of the island without serving a period of quarantine.
Meanwhile, Alderney’s immediate future in the soon-to-start FNB Priaulx League is in doubt due to ongoing travel issues. With the league set to start with a raft of eight matches in the opening eight days between 17 and 25 August, the Ridunians will be left kicking their heels – potentially for a long while yet.
More in Tuesday's Guernsey Press.
