KGV key to GFLM plans

Phil Corbet, chairman of Guernsey Football League Management, wants a return to Division One [Jackson] football being the second best thing to playing in the Priaulx for senior players.

‘If we are going to make our product more attractive to players we need to produce more fixtures on a more structured basis,’ said Corbet, who remains hopeful that the 2020-21 campaign will be able to start in September.

‘We are trying to reinstate the integrity of our middle leagues. Division One could be eight teams next season and the plan is to increase a third round of fixtures for them, just like the Priaulx.

‘In the last 20 years or so that status and integrity at Jackson level has gone,’ said a man fully aware that in recent times the two-division old Railway has become more attractive and Division One a non-event.

To enable GFLM’s aims, which also include more games at youth level, the third round of games will be slotted in at KGV, which could have three grass pitches, as well as the 3G, on offer.

‘There are extra facilities available that we didn’t have last year,’ said Corbet.

‘We are looking at how to optimise ways of improving the whole structure.

‘We also want more games for the kids, more games on a more structured basis.’

Corbet is now working with a new paid GFLM fixtures co-ordinator, Paul Hewitt, replacing the retiring Keith Mansell officially from 1 June.

Club delegates will get to meet their new fixtures man at the GFLM annual meeting, a date for which remains unconfirmed until such time it can be held ‘face to face’ as Corbet puts it.