JFA vice-president Iain Mackenzie spent much of yesterday morning trying to organise a game for them but, unfortunately, when he secured St Ouen as a result of Springfield and Les Quennevais both being in use Guingamp then decided against taking the fixture.
Mackenzie said: ‘Guingamp had had a very strenuous training programme in the morning so they did not wish to run any risks with their players with a game in the evening.
‘A tremendous amount of effort was put in to get them a game and I’d like to thank St Ouen FC and their secretary Alan Parker for all their assistance.
‘I take full responsibility for arranging this visit and in an ideal world it would have been nice to have been able to stage a match at Springfield, but it was very last minute and it could not be organised.
‘I would also like to stress that the Combination, through their president Tim Darwin and fixtures’ secretary Steve Landick, have been extremely helpful and supportive in this matter as we all work together to try and facilitate matches.
‘Guingamp are delighted with the arrangements and hospitality they have received.
Unfortunately everything was arranged at short notice as a result of the departure of their former manager last week.
‘Their visit is based around a training camp and a game would have been a bonus for everyone but, unfortunately, it was not to be in the end.’ Mackenzie confirmed that a link with Guingamp was being made with a view to them visiting Jersey again with Jersey teams going the other way to play matches in Brittany.
