Manzur opt to steer clear

It appears internal unrest at Rangers caused Manzur to have second thoughts about pursuing a deal which had looked very likely, even as recent as Tuesday night when coach Mark Romeril said his club had played ‘its last game under its current model’ and it ‘should be all systems go with Rangers from next season’.

An official Manzur statement said: ‘While the club had openly entertained numerous positive discussions in the last couple of weeks, and saw significant merit in the proposal tabled by Guernsey Rangers FC, a number of developments in recent days [which will remain confidential between the two clubs] have led to this decision being made.’

Clearly, those ‘developments’ have been deep unrest among a section of the club at St Andrew’s, although Rangers have yet to comment. The Guernsey Press has seen internal Manzur messaging referencing ‘unrest’ and ‘a pretty hostile set-up’ at Rangers which encouraged the club to withdraw.

With that in mind, Manzur have said ‘they will do everything in its powers to retain the club’s current standing and status within the GFA structure and remain a standalone affiliated club for the 2021-22 season and beyond’.

That statement came 48 hours after Manzur gave FNB Priaulx League champions St Martin’s a very tough game before going down 1-0 in the Guernsey FA Cup, a performance which is understood to have encouraged club officials that it could have a future on its own.

The WhatsApp message quotes coach Mark Romeril, who would have been the new Manzur-Rangers coach, as saying: ‘I watched our first team on Tuesday and was so proud of what we as a club have achieved and we simply can’t give that up’.

He added: ‘we will find homes [pitches], we will try to get players and we will do all we can to carry on...you lads are what makes this so great with your backing I can assure you that everyone on our committee we do everything to make this happen.’