Outgoing Women's FA management praise team

Thursday 16 March 2017

The Head Coach of Jersey Women’s Football has praised his “brilliant” team after stepping down, alongside other members of the management team, over what they say is a “lack of support” from the Jersey Football Association.

Former Jersey FA Women’s manager Simon Petulla resigned with immediate effect after alleging that the situation with the JFA had become “untenable”.

He was joined by coaching staff Charlie Petulla, Jason Carpenter and Jimmy Kelly - all just one week after Vice President and first ever woman appointed to the JFA board Kerry Petulla left.

Pictured: The outgoing management team (Simon Petulla - far left, Charlie Petulla - far right) and their Gold medal. (Photo: Deer Darling Productions)

Outgoing coach Charlie Petulla told Express that the decision was prompted by the cancellation of the Women’s Muratti by Guernsey FA, which he says the JFA didn’t push to go ahead.

He commented: “They clearly value their relationship with the Guernsey FA more than they value their own Jersey Women’s football team because they haven’t supported us in trying to push for the Murratti to go ahead. That was very important, especially in terms of the Island Games coming up.

“We’ve only got two fixtures pencilled for the season, and we want to try and retain our gold medal... It’s disappointing, especially knowing that the men have got 10 confirmed fixtures and we’ve only got two. We feel that we’re not getting the support that we need.”

“Without the games, there’s no preparation and we just can’t evolve the team. We’ve done all we can, we’ve taken the girls to a great position, but unfortunately we can’t take it further than what we have done.”

Pictured: The Jersey FA Women's team. (Photo: Deer Darling Productions)

He added that the management group – all unpaid volunteers – “wouldn’t close any doors to coming back in future” but that there would firstly have to be a “different culture at the top”.

But the outgoing management’s focus was on praising the girls who made a first ever gold at the Island Games and a record Muratti win possible.

“We wish the players of the JFA Women team every success in the future and want to place on record our gratitude to  the players who have shown a first class attitude and commitment from the day we began our journey as a team. We sincerely hope that they retain their Gold medal ‪on 30 June in Gotland,” Simon Petulla said.

I wish the players of the @JfaWomen the very best and sincerely hope they retain their @NWIslandGames gold medal on 30 June. Thanks pic.twitter.com/PduBMKumfu

— Simon Petulla (@simonpetulla) March 16, 2017

Social media tributes have since flooded in for the outgoing team. One commented: "The Petulla's made women's football in Jersey a 'thing'. Their dedication and commitment to doing this was unquestionable. Congrats to them."

In a statement, the Jersey FA sent their thanks to Simon Petulla and others for their, “…time and enthusiasm that they have put into managing the Jersey FA Women’s team.”

Sad to see @simonpetulla & @petulla9 leave @JfaWomen. They did an amazing job!

— Josh Band (@JoshLBand) March 16, 2017

Neville Davidson, CEO of Jersey FA, commented: “Our immediate focus is on Saturday’s fixture against the Navy. Thereafter we will look to appoint a new management team.”

In the meantime, Jersey FA coaches Jodie Botterill and Daniel Seviour will take the team for the game against the Navy.