JERSEY Football Association president Ricky Weir is keen to see a Champions League-style end of season competition together with a CI knock-out cup tournament.

Although he is not against the possibility of a 16-club CI League, Weir feels that to help raise standards an eight-team Champions League competition – four clubs from each island – could be the way forward for the sport in the islands.

Guernsey currently run an FA Cup-style tournament, which is open to clubs outside of their top-flight Priaulx League – those that play in the Business League – and it is successful.

Weir said: ‘The move for a CI League is definitely a positive and I’m in favour of anything that will help football freshen things up.

‘Personally I’d like to see a CI knock-out and a Champions League tournament.

The knock-out could be played throughout the season as we do now with the three inter-insular competitions, while at the end of the season – or possibly the beginning of the next – a Champions League could be played and possibly replacing the one-off Upton Park Trophy match but playing for the same trophy.

‘A 16-team CI League in my opinion could become stale quickly; I’m not sure people would go and watch matches for instance between the top side from one island and the bottom one from the other and vice-versa.

‘I think it would be much better to start smaller and get it right.

If that then proves successful then more teams could be added as we go along.

‘We all want to help raise playing standards and to do that I believe it could be done with the top four clubs in each island playing in a Champions League format.

‘Presently at Christmas most years many clubs are going through the motions as they have little to play for.

‘Last season Jersey’s Division I was closely-contested and many final placings were only decided on the final day of action.

With Champions League places to play for I’m sure things would improve as players would train longer with clubs with the prospect of some tough games to finish the season off.’ A Champions League could replace the one-off Upton Park Trophy match while a CI KO Cup may replace the playing of the current three inter-insular trophy competitions – the Wheway, Jeremie and WJ Collins.

Weir added: ‘Relying on the boat may be also dangerous but there are options with the possibility of back-to-back flight travel between the islands.

‘Everything depends on having sponsors in place and, of course, support of the clubs.

I see a Champions League and a CI KO Cup as a more viable option but that’s for the clubs to look at.’