TONY HOYLAND has been appointed the new manager of the Island ladies’ football side.

Stepping down from his position as Grouville Football Club’s joint manager, Hoyland says he is excited to take on the challenge.

‘It’s an honour to be an Island manager and it’s an exciting opportunity to take the ladies’ game on to the next level,’ he said.

‘What’s gone on in the past was right for that time, but now I’ve got to look at pushing it forward.’ Hoyland, a former manager of St John and St Paul’s, is highly qualified with a level four part one UEFA A coaching licence to his name.

He he brings with him, as he describes: ‘one of the best coaching teams available’.

Rob Cameron and Aaron Travers (assistant managers) will join the set-up alongside former St John secretary Paul Cotillard, who comes in as administrative assistant.

‘My backroom staff are highly qualified – it’s a good team,’ added the deputy headmaster of Bel Royal School.

Hoyland is hoping he can develop a programme that keeps girls in the sport after primary school, as there is a drop-off in participation at that point.

‘It would be nice to bridge that gap,’ he said.

‘Also, alongside the senior ladies’ team it would be good to have some sort of developmental squad, maybe two or three years younger, to feed into the senior side.’ Hoyland, who thanked everyone he has worked with at Grouville FC, will also be joining the JFA Capita Centre of Excellence this season, having relinquished his role with the Island primary schools at the end of last season.

Jersey Football Association president Ricky Weir said: ‘We are absolutely delighted at securing the services of Tony and acquiring the qualities he will bring to the role for the benefit of our Island ladies’ squad.

‘Tony is one of the top qualified coaches in the Island, together with our senior Island manager Dave Kennedy and our football development officer Brian Oliver, which is great news for the JFA in general and for the future of our women’s team in particular.

‘Tony also brings Rob and Aaron, who are B and C licence holders respectively, and that, together with his ideas of how he would like to take the Island women’s team forward, made him the best man for the job.

We are delighted to have him on board.’ Hoyland replaces Kevin Miller, who stepped down from the position following this summer’s Island Games in Rhodes.