Alderney task made harder
‘WE’LL get through it,’ was Steve Concanen’s typically robust response to news that next season Alderney’s return travel arrangements have got a lot more difficult.
Aurigny’s decision to stop any afternoon flights into the northern isle on Saturday afternoons for much of the winter means that last season’s FNB Priaulx League runners-up will have to play a few Sunday games in February and March and their players will have extra costs.
‘It has affected us but we will get through it,’ said Concanen.
‘There’s people kicking up a fuss up up here, but I don’t know all the details and I’ll leave it to others,’ said the stalwart defender and team spokesman.
‘We will still be able to fly into Guernsey on a Saturday morning but we won’t be able to get back.
‘It will cost us, but the boys are willing to do it.’
As per recent seasons Alderney will play a number of double-headers to save on costs and complete their 24-match league programme, which is two more games than if they had chosen to accept a Jersey invite and play in their league next season.
Concanen says the Jersey option was discussed ‘but never realistic’ even though it would have been financially better for the blues.
‘There wouldn’t have been much point in changing because we would have had to find four or five Jersey-based players to take the place of the four or five Guernsey ones.’
Had Alderney gone into the Jersey Combination they would have had 11 away games and 11 at home and the Caesareans never tried to entice Alderney to join up with financial inducement.
The suggestion that Alderney might switch leagues followed a spring workshop attended by Jersey Combination clubs and officials.
