Portsmouth FC stops funding development in Guernsey

The club's backing allowed the scheme to be extended to six year olds

Portsmouth Football Club has stopped some of its funding for a development centre in Guernsey.

The Guernsey FA has stepped in after the financially-troubled Premier League club said it could not pay for the venues, a bill of more than £2,000.

Portsmouth took over responsibilities for the finances and operation in the summer, previously having had an arm's length involvement.

The club said it would continue to pay the local coaches involved.

The project is having a major positive impact on the local game and the link to a professional club is vital in providing a pathway for our young players Mark Le Tissier

GFA Chairman Mark Le Tissier said: "This is all a very unfortunate set of circumstances, but we have no wish to see local providers left out of pocket.

"The GFA has no major league sponsor and is short of money itself, but we do intend to meet all outstanding costs from the reserves we originally set aside to fund the centre from the beginning."

He said the association would now look at finding further financial backing and professional club involvement for the development centre and running it for the next few weeks until the end of the season. The Portsmouth link will be retained in the meantime.

Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth were all involved when the GFA started the initiative last January at under 12, 13 and 14 age groups. The financial backing from the club allowed the project to expand and run from six year olds upwards.

Le Tissier added: "The centre was a key part of our four-year strategy and we believe it is important to keep it going. The project is having a major positive impact on the local game and the link to a professional club is vital in providing a pathway for our young players."