JFA President Charlie Tostevin said this morning that he agreed with former Island team boss Dave Matthews that three matches a season, apart from the Muratti, is not enough.

I’m quite sure that Jersey can play in leagues higher than the South West Counties,’ he said.

‘We looked at where the Island side should go a few years ago, but UEFA/FIFA wasn’t an option because we are not an independent state.

‘We could have joined the Rymans league, in Division III – but finance held us back.

The Rymans would have been 38 games a season, so twice a week our players would have had to play here or on the mainland which would have cost thousands, in travel alone.

‘South West Counties was our only option and would have given us four more games a season, a step up from just one.

Unfortunately two teams withdrew from the league this season.’ Tostevin said he doesn’t agree with the idea of having a full-time Jersey team.

‘It would work to the detriment of club football if all the best league players were taken for the team, like happens at the Rugby Club, which has left just a few small clubs to survive alongside it.’ ‘The JFA has a responsibility to all the other footballers, at club level.

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