Sporting Eventualities director Iain Mackenzie, one of the high-profile tournament organisers, said yesterday that it is ’99 per cent certain’ not to take place this year.
But he is hopeful that if he talks to the right people in the near future the tournament could be up and running again next year.
Mackenzie said: ‘I’m awaiting one phone call and that will decide whether it’s on or off.
Realistically, I don’t expect it to happen now because it’s so late in the day.
And that’s disappointing.
‘It’s been a culmination of a few things, including a lack of funding from the States, while I also left it late to get things organised because I’ve been heavily involved in Jersey Football Association work.
‘I hope to get the tournament back for next year and to do that I’ll have to speak to the people that support it much earlier.
‘We have some fantastic contacts of teams that wish to come to Jersey but at this late stage the majority them have now confirmed their pre-season games for next season.
‘I read in the national newspapers the day after the FA Cup final that Manchester United and Chelsea would be meeting again in an under-23 tournament in Malaysia.
Boca Juniors, Benfica and Barcelona are also taking part so it appears someone is running a tournament similar to Jersey’s out there.
‘I will attempt to meet with States members to see if they share the same vision as we do on the tournament and hopefully we can get it resurrected again for next season.’ The Jersey International Football Tournament was held successfully up to and including August 2005 since its inception in 1999.
