THE structure behind the Island team has to change if Jersey senior football is to progress, insists former boss Dave Matthews.

This was not an easy decision,’ said Matthews of his resignation from the post of senior and U21 manager on Wednesday.

‘No one was prouder of running the Island team than me and I’m sad to be leaving the players – they responded to the standards I set.

But they deserve more backing – and the hope of a higher standard of football.

‘We’ve got to get a Jersey team playing in a mainland league,’ said Matthews, making it clear that the South West Counties was no longer fitting the bill.

‘I just hope something good comes out of my resigning.’ Matthews’ move – a shock to some, but not to others – came just a few months after winning the Jersey International U21 Football Tournament at Springfield, his senior side topping the table ahead of the rising stars of Barcelona, Maritimo and Celtic.

But the seeds of Matthews’ disenchantment were obviously set a little earlier than that moment of triumph when the Jersey Football Association and Coca-Cola Combination failed to amalgamate into one body.

That failure was a big disappointment to Matthews who saw the joining of the Islands’ two main footballing bodies to be vital to attracting money as well as gaining impetus to the game’s development at senior level.

Said Matthews (56), an Island goalkeeper during his playing days: ‘I’ve had some great co-operation from the players and club managers, as well my assistants – but the set up behind us is just not there.

‘It’s such a shame – it should be the best football job in the Island.

‘I don’t want to hurt anyone over this, certainly not individuals, but the JFA need help.

If the Combination had joined (the idea was rejected by the clubs) it would have been a massive boost for Island football.

‘People might consider helping us if they saw a proper structure – people want to see a professional approach.’ Such a coming together could, Matthews believes, have attracted much needed finance into the game and the opportunity to put together a long-term plan for a higher standard of opposition for the Island’s leading players.

Matthews is at pains to applaud the work done by Brian Oliver, the Island’s football development officer.

‘The basis is brilliant,’ says Matthews, ‘there is great work being done at the School of Excellence and that’s carried on at U16 then at U18 level by Dave Walsh.

All’s going well on the development side.

‘But the senior game is also all about players – give them something or they will go somewhere else.’ The job that the undeniably passionate Matthews leaves certainly wasn’t the one he envisioned when he took over the post early in 2003 when Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris left.

He clearly believes his job should be to work with the players to improve their performance and not being involved with travel arrangements, raising money, collecting fares, booking facilities etc.

‘Getting the team ready is the coach’s job,’ he says.

From the highs of Springfield in August to the disappointments of this season’s South West Counties, where UK team withdrawals have led to a curtailed season, Matthews hopes Jersey will not return to a blinkered Muratti-only focus.

‘We shouldn’t return to the mode of Muratti, Muratti, Muratti – it shouldn’t just be about a day in May.

I firmly believe we would have won the South West Counties with a settled side, but with so many players dropping out, either through money concerns or club commitments – you find you’re not in control.’ Matthews, who was quick to reject players who, he believed, messed his Jersey team about, warmly thanked his assistants Tim Houghton, Ian Horswell and Jon Trigg for their help.

‘I’ve gone now to give the new coach some time, ten weeks or so, before the next game,’ said a sad Matthews, who could not rule out a return to club football.

‘It’s in my blood, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be interested.’