BOARD members from Jersey Reds showed “no appetite for change” to their organisation’s business model during discussions with the government, the assistant minister with responsibility for sport has stated.
Deputy Lucy Stephenson was questioned about the Reds during the early stages of this week’s States Assembly, with a focus on whether £370,000 of emergency funding provided in recent months had come with conditions.
Deputy Moz Scott asked whether discussions had taken place about whether a representative from the Treasury Department, or from the Island’s business community, might join the club board, or if there might be a change of club chairman.
Deputy Stephenson said: “There were lots of scenarios raised [during the discussions] and the decision [to provide no further financial support] was not taken lightly.
“The response from the Reds board was lukewarm, with no appetite for any type of change.”
The assistant minister had earlier said that Jersey had some “incredible” athletes who had represented the Island around the world, and she felt that these people had not received the same treatment as Jersey Reds.
She said: “This is a frustration for me and I am committed to review how better support can be provided to provide pathways for athletes in a fair and even way.”
Members also asked Deputy Stephenson about why the decision that no further government funding would be provided to the Reds was not communicated for eight days after a Council of Ministers meeting at which it was decided.
She said: “There were efforts to contact one of the main parties who was unfortunately away – a Teams call was offered but could not happen [until the following week] due to their diary commitments.
“There has been a pattern of behaviour that saw difficulty in getting hold of some of the individuals involved, one of whom could not be there and wanted to be there face-to-face.
“The government position on long-term funding has been very clear during almost a year since a meeting that took place in November 2022.”
Deputy Stephenson also clarified that the two payments made this summer, totalling £370,000 had been authorised by letters of instruction from ministers as a result of the decision having been taken to over-rule advice from civil servants.
When Deputy Raluca Kovacs asked what conditions would be attached to any future government funding for the Reds, Deputy Stephenson concluded the period of questions by saying that she did not agree that any further financial support should be provided.
