LISTEN: GFC boss to 'give everything' after saying yes to island role

Tony Vance was yesterday confirmed as the Island men’s team manager for the upcoming Close Finance Muratti Vase final and the Guernsey 2023 NatWest International Island Games this summer.

He will be supported by assistant manager Kevin Gilligan and head coach Colin Fallaize, along with goalkeeping coach Jordan Kelly.

Vance had revealed earlier in the year that he had been asked to consider resuming the role he held in 2022, but had informed the GFA that he wanted to concentrate on securing Guernsey FC’s Isthmian South Central status before making a decision. He reached that decision in the affirmative over the weekend as GFC finished their campaign with survival guaranteed.

• Podcast: Hear more from Tony Vance on this week's Guernsey Press Football Podcast

‘For me and Fal, we’ll tackle it full tilt, there’s no doubt about that,’ he said.

‘We’ve got Kevin Gilligan to support us as well. We’ve all be involved in the Island Games, it’s not new to us, we’ve played and coached in it, so we’ll be OK and we’ll give this a right good go.

‘I’ve been biting the season off in chunks personally. It was about getting Guernsey FC safe, we’ve sorted that out. Now all I care about is the Muratti and trying to win that back. Once we’ve done that, then we’ll tackle the Island Games and we’ll give everything we can.’

GFA chief executive Gary Roberts reported that the board were ‘naturally delighted’ to see Vance, Fallaize and Gilligan return.

‘As a collective, their experience of playing and coaching within both Muratti and Island Games environments is unmatched within Guernsey,’ he said.

‘It was always the board’s ambition to ensure that Guernsey football had the best, and right, people in place to lead the squad in what is an important period – a home Muratti and the first home Island Games since 2003.

‘Discussions have taken place throughout the year and we are pleased that they have resulted in these appointments.’