JFA and Coca-Cola Combination officials had agreed that a merger would be in both their interests because it would avoid administrative duplication.
But the clubs voted unanimously against the deal at their regular monthy meeting last Friday.
The proposal to merge came after a committee made up of three representatives from each body had met to examine the possibility of a merger – something which has been done in Guernsey where the GFA run the Cable & Wireless Priaulx League.
But the club representatives took the view that things are working perfectly well as they are.
The presidents of both Jersey bodies, Charlie Tostevin of the JFA and Tim Darwin of the Combination – who both sat on the committee – said they were not too disappointed.
Said Tostevin: ‘We thought it would streamline the structure of football and bring the organisations together in terms of administration and stop duplication of work – for instance they’ve got a secretary and we’ve got a secretary.
It’s also getting more difficult to get volunteers to do the jobs that need to be done.
‘But we respect the views of the clubs, although we’re disappointed because we’ve spent so much time on it that could have been spent doing other things.
‘But I want to make it absolutely clear there isn’t a conflict between the JFA and the Combination.
They proposed the idea together.’ Darwin too was conciliatory despite admitting that he was in favour of the move.
He said: ‘I thought that a merger would be a good idea but from my point of view the Combination is working very well as it is and we will carry on working closely with the JFA.
‘The clubs also thought things are working perfectly well as they are and took the attitude of why spoil it.
But they did agree that closer links should be forged between us and the JFA.
‘The vote doesn’t mean that the idea of a merger can’t be looked at again in the future.’ Trinity president Milford Lee said this morning: ‘They’re separate identities and they should remain like that.
I can understand the proposal if there is a lack of volunteers and in the future it might be a forced issue, but at the moment I think things should stay as they are.
‘But I’m not frightened of change and I think it will happen in the future.’ The JFA representatives on the committee were Tostevin plus vice presidents Charlie Binet and Norman Parslow with Darwin, John Welsh and Chris Benest for the Combination.
Another voice raised in favour of the merger came from Jersey Scottish, the Combination champions.
The club’s honorary treasurer, Jimmy Young, said this morning: ‘We discussed the issue at our club meeting last night and the general opinion was they should be together.
For the size of the Island and the league structure you’d think it would make sense to put the two together – we think it’s a good idea, they should merge!’
