Guernsey FC say they are “hopeful” that a “sensible and fair decision” will be reached after they were told their play-off final can’t be played at home.

The match against Peacehaven & Telescombe was due to be played at Victoria Park on Sunday 10 May.

The Green Lions won the right to a home game after coming third in the Southern Combination Football League this season.

Guernsey’s men secured their place in the play-off final with a victory over visitors Horsham on Saturday. On Sunday morning the club told fans that details for the match were ‘TBC’.

Later that day the Club was told the game cannot be played here.

“Guernsey FC are extremely disappointed and frustrated to share that the Club received formal notification from the SCFL, at 17:36 on Bank Holiday Monday, advising that the board of the Premier Sports Southern Combination Football League (SCFL) had resolved to reverse the venue for the play-off final. We were informed that the match will now be played in the UK instead of Victoria Park Stadium.”

The Club is angry with this decision, saying that “the right to home advantage was earned on merit through a third-place league finish and victory in our semi-final”.

“The removal of the opportunity to host what would have been a major occasion, in front of a large crowd, undermines the integrity of the competition and is a position the Club does not accept,” said GFC in a statement to fans on social media.

With Victoria Park able to host 3,00 seated fans plus standing spectators, the home match would have raised valuable revenue for GFC, which would have had to split the gate takings with the visitors due to FA rules.

The Club said it had started making plans with the opponents to fly their players over on Saturday to ensure they had a restful night and morning before the promotion battle.

However, Guernsey FC has since found out that Peacehaven has “effectively been given discretion” over where the game is played. The Club is continuing to challenge the decision, they said.

“Given the limited timeframe since the venue was confirmed on Saturday, and the inability to progress discussions over the Bank Holiday, the Club considers this decision to be premature and disproportionate. The decision also appears to be based on inaccuracies in the SCFL board’s understanding, making the lack of consultation or opportunity to respond all the more concerning.

“The Club has challenged this decision and requested the opportunity to engage constructively with the SCFL to demonstrate that the fixture can be delivered in Guernsey.

“We will continue to pursue all appropriate avenues to secure a fair and proper outcome for players, supporters and all parties involved. We remain hopeful that, alongside the SCFL and Peacehaven & Telescombe, a sensible and fair solution can still be found.”

GFC has already been told that the decision made by the SCFL is final, but the Club said it is continuing to “pursue all available options in an attempt to resolve the matter, without success”.

“We are now considering our options and reserve the right to pursue a formal appeal to the FA.”

If the decision is not reversed it is likely the play-off final will be played on either Tuesday 12 or Wednesday 13 May, at a venue in England.