Guernsey Press

D-day day is fast looming

TONY VANCE says that amid the confusion and uncertainty over an Isthmian League campaign, he is relaxed and has been for a long while.

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Tony Vance. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 28676510)

Tomorrow, his Green Lions play FC Isle of Man for the Skipton Cup, a game which just may be GFC’s first and last home match for many months, perhaps even the season, such is the Covid-19 state of affairs.

‘I just go with the flow,’ said the GFC boss.

Some sort of decision would be helpful, though, he admits.

GFC put out a brief statement yesterday in which they reiterated that they were still talking with the local health authorities and the Isthmian League while acknowleding that with the season scheduled to start next weekend they will be unable to get away.

Mark Le Tissier, the GFA chairman, said a final decision on their campaign will be made early next week.

FC Isle of Man have withdrawn from the FA Vase first round qualifying due to their own Manx border restrictions.

The team was due to play AFC Liverpool in Douglas next weekend, which would have been its first competitive match.

Current border restrictions prevent non-residents from travelling to the Isle of Man, apart from key workers and those using the Guernsey air bridge.

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A club spokesman said the current restrictions were not ‘conducive’ to fulfilling the fixture.

AFC Liverpool have been given a bye and will now play Maine Road in the second qualifying round.

FC IOM, who were awarded a place in the North West Counties League (NWCL) Division One South, are due to start their own maiden league campaign in Douglas against Wythenshawe Town on 3 October.

That game is now in doubt.

A spokesman for the club said it was ‘in active dialogue’ with the league and the Manx government to find ‘an appropriate way forward.

The Green Lions know all about those sort of discussions and Vance said his squad have stayed relaxed about the uncertainty.

‘I think they are enjoying their Priaulx League football, but they want some direction too and want to know what’s happening.

‘We’ve [GFC] take a calculated risk and let players go out and play and enjoy themselves. We’ve only trained tentatively.’

To that background, it now seems the vast majority of the GFC group have made up their own minds as to what the near future holds.

GFC skipper Jamie Dodd’s commitment to St Martin’s this week leaves just one player – Ross Allen – unattached for domestic action.