Panic Stations!!!!!

[Smudge]

A few of the Fans in the Island of Guernsey are asking Questions about their Ground Grading issues.

 

Lack of Communication from the Club seems to be the biggest concern,they are a Community Club after all.

 

One poster mentions the R word if the improvements are not done.

 

Groundsharing at The Track even mentioned.

 

Having never been to Footes Lane would it need much work to get it up to Step 4 Level,think it would be ok for Step 5 though.

 

Some hard of hearing fans are moaning they cannot hear the Tannoy System,lucky to have one!!!!

 

One Fan even talks of a wasted Season especially after the price hike in Season Ticket Prices,which this season does not include CLUB MEMBERSHIP this year like it did last.

Edited August 13, 2012 by Smudge

[newby marvel]

thought pitch was poor surroundings very good but whole ground would need enclosing there a breath of fresh air i wish them well apart from when we play them

[HKP]

Hardly panic stations, yet... Just some fans asking questions which is a good thing. Something that the Guernsey Press ought to do but don't as they have a close working relationship with GFC. Don't forget it has only been of late that the Editor has accepted that there are problems on the horizon and that the FA won't bend the rules for GFC. I did wonder if he ever read the FA ground regulations before some of his comments in his paper...

 

As for the pitch, it was clear at the back end of the season that despite the efforts of Shane Moon (the full time groundsman) that the pitch was struggling to cope with all of the football and the egg-chasing matches. Anyone know how many egg-chasing matches there are this season?

Edited August 13, 2012 by HKP

[Smudge]

Egg chasers have 13 home games,14 Teams in League.

[HKP]

Ah OK, thanks Smudge.

[HKP]

Ah yes... buy you are missing something there Smudge... As the boys at Ormering.com point out this evening, what about all of their other teams that are also to play on the hallowed turf? 2nd XV, 3XV etc, etc.... How many teams of egg-chasers do they have/need and where do GFC fit in the queue?

Edited August 13, 2012 by HKP

[Guernsey local]

Don't think guernsey had a 3rd XV. I imagine other than finals (not that there are any I'm aware of) matches other than the guernsey 1st XV would be played on the other pitch at footes labe or KGV.

[ormering]

Guernsey Rugby Club has a 1st, 2nd, Vets and Colts XV, according to their website. We've been told by an elected member of the States of Guernsey that their latest agreement allows all of these teams to play on the main pitch, which effectively puts GFC some way down the pecking order as far as what goes on in the stadium is concerned. This seems a bit odd given that GFC is the best chance the States of Guernsey ha of raising revenue from Footes Lane, but there you go.

 

No panic from us yet though as there are options available - that said, if nothing comes out in a few months we'll probably start twitching!

[Guernsey local]

Whilst they may earn revenue for the states I don't think the states want to build a 6ft wall around their pride and joy stadium. I'm in agreement there as it would look awful if you ask me.

 

And whilst all those teams mentioned could play at footes lane I'd be very surprised if they do on a regular basis.

[Smudge]

Guernsey Rugby Club has a 1st, 2nd, Vets and Colts XV, according to their website. We've been told by an elected member of the States of Guernsey that their latest agreement allows all of these teams to play on the main pitch, which effectively puts GFC some way down the pecking order as far as what goes on in the stadium is concerned. This seems a bit odd given that GFC is the best chance the States of Guernsey ha of raising revenue from Footes Lane, but there you go.

 

No panic from us yet though as there are options available - that said, if nothing comes out in a few months we'll probably start twitching!

 

Ormering enjoyed reading your site,very informative.Wonder if Bomaya could put in a pinned link on the Premier Club info page,along with a link to the Reg Miles CCL site,which is very up to date.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

I doubt that Mark Le Tissier and Steve Dewnship will want the Guernsey project to fail, and Dewnship is not short of a few bob working for the Rothschild's.

 

Perhaps the Rothschild's could buy the ground, and have Guernsey FC and Guernsey RFC as joint tenants.

[Smudge]

Maybe Green Fingers could help,lets just say Guernsey do not get Footes Lane up to Step 4 standard,what would be their cut off date to find another Groundshare that would allow them to be promoted.I was under the impression that you cannot just put in place a Groundshare Agreement,to obtain Promotion.

[HKP]

Whilst they may earn revenue for the states I don't think the states want to build a 6ft wall around their pride and joy stadium. I'm in agreement there as it would look awful if you ask me.

 

And whilst all those teams mentioned could play at footes lane I'd be very surprised if they do on a regular basis.

The ground requirements was known (or should have been) before a ball was kicked last season. I have been banging on about this for nigh on a year and it fell on deaf ears..

Well Ormering.com have said they know differently on the egg-chasing front.

Edited August 14, 2012 by HKP

[Green_Fingers]

Maybe Green Fingers could help,lets just say Guernsey do not get Footes Lane up to Step 4 standard,what would be their cut off date to find another Groundshare that would allow them to be promoted.I was under the impression that you cannot just put in place a Groundshare Agreement,to obtain Promotion.

 

Clubs promoted from Step 6 with a "G" grade have until 31st March to obtain the "F" grading which they need to retain their Step 5 status (Farnham Town were examples last season).

 

Clubs seeking promotion from Step 5 to Step 4 must have at least an "E" grading and if promoted have until 31st March in the new season to upgrade to the "D" grade needed to retain Step 4 status.

 

Any Club failing to get the necessary grading by 31st March face relegation - as you correctly state you cannot subsequently arrange a groundshare to avoid that relegation or to achieve promotion.

 

Horley, Westfield & Frimley Green were all relegated a few seasons back due to not having the correct grading at 31st March - Frimley Green's late groundshare agreement with Farnborough Town was deemed too late to save them - it needed to have been in place at the start of that season.

 

However, if a Club was able to purchase or obtain a lease to a facility that did meet the grading requirements, then my view is that all should be ok.

 

To summarise:

 

To avoid relegation back to Step 6 - obtain "F"" grade by 31st March 2013 or obtain a suitable new ground (not groundshare) by end of season.

 

To be eligible for promotion to Step 4 obtain "F" grade by 31st March 2013 then "E" grade by end of season or obtain a suitable new ground (not groundshare) by end of season.

 

As ever I'm happy to be corrected if I've misinterpreted current rules

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

As the 'purists' on NLM will tell you, it's better to go straight for a Grade D than an E...

[Big J R]

PLEASE DON'T THINK I'M HAVING A POP, COZ I A'INT, BUT.......

 

With all the money in Guernsey which is still well known as an off-shore tax haven, I feel sure SOMEONE over there, possibly a tax-exile or three with a love of football could come forward with the readies ?

 

Or would this upset the present board ?

Edited August 14, 2012 by Big J R

[HKP]

Technically we are not a tax haven...

[Big J R]

Technically we are not a tax haven...

 

There is a massive difference between technically and actually, as my late Uncle from Guernsey, (an accountant), would have told you HKP.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Big J R

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

What about the former Bristol City owner?

[HKP]

What is his name?

One thing worth noting, is that Jersey is a far richer island and does more to attract Millionaires and therefore it is more commonplace for some of their residents to give out wads of cash.