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Guernsey FC Manager Tony Vance plans "a complete review" of the club but says there is no doom and gloom as they prepare for a backlog of fixtures and increasing covid-related travel costs.
National news coverage of Guernsey FC often focuses on the challenges of travelling off the island for away games and covering the costs for visiting teams coming to Guernsey. Vance, Team Manager and Commercial Manager, was recently interviewed by The Sunday Times, which described the Green Lions as "amateurs with travel costs of £200,000".
Speaking to Express ahead of welcoming Staines Town to Footes Lane this weekend, Vance said that Guernsey FC remains financially stable and viable despite the pandemic pushing up costs, such as having to spend hundreds of pounds on lateral flow tests each time an opposition team visits Guernsey or when his side returns home after an away game.
Pictured: Guernsey FC continue to attract national interest as 'the amateurs' who face huge costs to play in the English non-league pyramid.
Vance says his biggest concerns are not the challenges facing Guernsey FC at the moment, but rather how they are going to tackle and successfully overcome them. They are currently 18th in the 19-team Isthmian League South Central Division on Step 4 of the Non-League Pyramid of semi-professional and amateur clubs. But, as always, Vance has his eyes on the future and the possibilities ahead of the Green Lions.
"My opinion is that, on and off the pitch, we must not allow ourselves to get into our comfort zone - now we are back from the prolonged break, enjoy we are back playing and just wait for the new stadium to come along thinking that will change everything," said Vance.
"Whilst it will be a game changer commercially as well as from a playing point of view, the most dangerous thing you can do in business, sport and other scenarios is plod along and not challenge yourself."
The new stadium planned for Victoria Avenue remains some way off and the States' Footes Lane Stadium will be their home ground for the foreseeable future.
There should be plenty of action to entertain fans over the coming months as Guernsey FC face a backlog of matches after starting their season later than their opponents in the Isthmian League South Central Division. Prolonged travel restrictions due to the pandemic meant the Green Lions had to withdraw completely from the league last season and delay their start to this season. But Vance says the backlog of games is not a problem at all.
Vance is not just aiming to avoid relegation. As they work their way through the backlog of games, he will be pushing his players to get the most out of them each and every time they take the field.
"I always want more. Most of the players give everything they can, but what I am striving and longing for is a way we can flatten the curve, untie the hands behind our backs and ensure we have a level playing field.
"This is what I am looking at and what I mean by a complete review [of the club]. This is not a panic-driven comment, just a rallying cry to see what we can do on and off the pitch - nothing more, nothing less."
Pictured: Guernsey FC have two matches left this side of Christmas. Their first match of 2022 is on New Year's Day, away at South Park.
Vance does not rule out that the complete review of the club could lead to changes in the playing squad, coaching staff or other roles. As he was when the Guernsey FC project started more than a decade ago, Vance is certain that the club has at its disposal a wide field of talent to compete in the national leagues.
"Never say never - however, finance, personnel and the logistical challenges we face are huge dependents of this. One thing I will say is I am a huge believer that we have the talent here on the rock. We just need to work out how we can squeeze that extra 20-30% required out of everyone to progress as I am desperate to do.
"The club is in a very good position in terms of support, morale and respect within the community for how we operate, judging by all the comments I receive. Again I want to point out here that this is just me looking to push us further and make us even bigger and better."
As well as having great community support and dedicated players, coaches and volunteers off the pitch, Guernsey FC undeniably has financial challenges which other clubs in the Isthmian League will never face. But Vance is as confident in their financial position as he is in their talent on the pitch.
"The club is financially viable and fully sustainable. We never out-sustain ourselves. However, that is not to say that having to pay an additional £750 for every game for lateral flow tests for the team is not hurting us because it is."
Pictured: Guernsey FC's financial responsibilities include paying for visiting teams to fly over for their home matches and associated travel costs such as charges for lateral flow tests handed out to everyone arriving in the Bailiwick.
The additional £750 covid testing bill will be coming Guernsey FC's way again this weekend. Kick off against Staines Town is 14:00 on Sunday.
Pictured top: Tony Vance.
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