Sarre fears for island football

A newly formed team from Guernsey hopes to play in the Kent Premier League from next season

The president of Belgrave Wanderers has said plans for a team from Guernsey to enter an English league will damage the standard of football on the island.

Hilary Sarre is concerned that the best players will leave their clubs for the chance to play in a mainland league.

He told BBC Guernsey: "Should we take out those senior players then the standard is bound to drop."

The Guernsey FA has approved the formation of a new team that hopes to play in the Kent Premier League.

Sarre also said that if the best players no longer play in the Guernsey League then there could be a drop in the number of people willing to get involved in the game.

"There is a a lot of work that goes into the local game, there's probably 20 games played over the weekend, plus all the minis.

The board has always said that if a new club met the set criteria they would be affiliated

Guernsey FA chairman Mark Le Tissier

"Over 600 people are involved in spending their free time looking after a local community football scene. If standards get dropped, you could see a decline in a commitment in the local community," he added.

But GFA chairman Mark Le Tissier believes they had little choice but to affiliate the new team.

"The board has always said that if a new club met the set criteria they would be affiliated and the member clubs were aware of that," said Le Tissier.

"We wish the new club well in their aspirations for entering the Kent Premier League.

"We are pleased to be able to conclude this issue and concentrate on the development of football again," he added.