The fixture was was moved early yesterday – just 74 hours before the scheduled kick-off.
St Peter and St Paul’s were due to meet in the Guernsey-run competition final – but the two clubs are now expected to play for JFC Premiership points instead . . . unless the final gets a late reprieve.
The switch came about in order to get Jersey’s Premiership title race resolved, before the Upton Park Trophy match early next month.
St Peter were not consulted about the change and the late notification caused an uproar, with the club contacting Browne with a request for the final to be reinstated. But that is not the Combination president’s call.
St Peter are deeply unhappy that they were not consulted before the decision was made – and they claim the change has been made outside of the normal process, saying in a letter it was instigated by an under-strength St Paul’s in consultation with JFA chief executive officer Neville Davidson.
Fixture changes are the responsibility of JFC fixtures secretary Steve Landick and, after consultation with both the Jersey and Guernsey FAs, he yesterday replaced the final with a Premiership game between the two sides [originally scheduled for 29 April] in an attempt to get the title race decided as soon as possible.
Landick said: ‘Guernsey were asked if they would move the Upton game, but they said “no”.
‘So it’s a case of getting the Premiership title decided as soon as possible so that neither club [St Peter or St Paul’s] has to play on the Thursday [3 May] before the Upton, should the title race go the full distance.
‘We may still have a problem if the title race goes to a play-off, as that game would have to be played on the Thursday before the Upton.’
Combination president Charlie Browne said: ‘After reading St Peter president Tom du Feu’s letter, I agree the Jeremie final is the most important fixture their club will play this season and not to be consulted prior to the rearrangement is something I feel uncomfortable with.
‘Although the tournament is outside my remit, I would like to show my support for St Peter and ask both the Guernsey FA and Jersey FA to reinstate the Jeremie Cup final to be played on Sunday.’
Browne contacted GFA ceo Gary Roberts yesterday and was told that the Upton takes precedence over the Jeremie.
St Peter official Jon Welsh said: ‘We’re disappointed with the whole handling of this matter. The Jeremie final date has been in place since the start of the season and we’ve got parish dignitaries coming down for the game and a function arranged at our clubhouse afterwards.’
Davidson said: ‘This change of game has not been instigated by St Paul’s.
‘The Upton takes precedence over the Jeremie Cup and bringing the St Peter and St Paul’s league match forward to be played on Sunday helps because both also have four games each to play and three of them, each, next week.’
St Peter believe a St Paul’s request to move the league would appear to be solely on the grounds of managing the non-availability of certain key players.
St Paul’s president Mark Sheldon said: ‘The problem of St Paul’s players playing ten games in 19 days has not changed by switching the cup game to the league game.
‘St Peter know we have players missing this weekend because of suspension and being away, but we’ve still got enough players available and we’re looking forward to the game.’
A wet winter has resulted in a huge backlog of fixtures this season, coupled with St Peter also being unavailable on five Saturdays due to their successful Kent Challenge Shield campaign.
Both teams played league matches last night and both have three matches next week – on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The Jeremie Cup final, a GFA competition, has been rescheduled for Saturday 19 May – but that is a date that clashes with an Island fixture away to Punjab United.
