GREEN LIONS ON THE PROWL

Vance’s Guernsey sweat on travel protocols

-  Matt Badcock

GUERNSEY boss Tony Vance says the Green Lions are preparing to kick-off on September 11 – but admits they are in the hands of the government’s Covid travel restrictions.

The Channel Island club are set to return to Step 4 having sat out last season because of their government’s strict coronavirus rules.

While they have now eased slightly, the guidance is changing on a daily basis and in their current form would make it nearly impossible to compete.

As it stands, inbound passengers must have had their second jab – and be through the subsequent 14-day window – before paying £25 for kits to test twice in the next four days. Others, including U18s, must isolate.

There has been some breathing space created with their opening fixtures. Whyteleafe’s withdrawal from the Isthmian Division One South Central means Guernsey’s original first-day opponent Binfield will now face Basingstoke Town.

Review

With Vance’s side not in the FA Cup and then their own game with Whyteleafe now off the table, they are due to begin on September 11 at home to Hanwell Town.

“It has bought us a period of time to review how the border restrictions are going to change – they almost change by the day,” Vance told The NLP.