Manzur get the chop from Track landlords

The club, which contains half-a-dozen Guernsey FC players and sits comfortably mid-table in the FNB Priaulx League, was informed six weeks ago of Belgraves’ decision to end their hire agreement at the end of this season.

‘You are not wrong,’ said a tight-lipped Manzur first-team coach Mark Romeril when questioned on the rumour yesterday.

‘There is truth behind those rumours and we are working on a solution to the problem Bels have put us in,’ he added.

Manzur left Northfield to utilise the Track two seasons ago. Now they will have cause to regret that decision because the chances of the former social league club, with 120 signed-on players servicing four senior teams, being accommodated at an established club must be rated as very slim.

Therefore Manzur’s options would seem to be to find a new home at a park or school ground or play every game as an away fixture.

Andy Robert, the Belgraves president, said there were a number of reasons why the decision has been made but, ultimately ‘we have to look after ourselves and our players’.

‘More football is now required at the Track than when we first spoke [with Manzur] and that is now down to a number of factors.’

Roberts pointed out that in a relatively short period Bels have moved from having just two senior teams to four and there is now a strong prospect that they will have teams playing youth football on the main pitch next season after re-establishing their minis section.

‘The logistics are that we can’t fit everything in,’ said Robert.

‘We have got a growing Minis section and that, hopefully, will lead us to having nine-a-side matches on the main pitch. It is unfortunate [for Manzur], but the Track is also a required ground for cup finals, representative games and alike.’

• THE FNB Priaulx League could be decided by two rounds of fixtures only after the senior clubs agreed to give full discretion to the GFLM board on the issue.