Bowls Jersey president Greg Davis steps down because of 'mental toll' of role

Greg Davis was part of Jersey's men's triples and fours teams that bowled at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

The president of Bowls Jersey says the behaviour of a minority of members has contributed to him stepping down.

Most of the governing body's committee have quit in support of Greg Davis, but will stay temporarily until February.

If no new leadership is found the organisation, which governs domestic and international bowls for the island, could dissolve.

"Over the course of the last few years there's probably been several incidents that built up," Davis said.

"There's going to be times where the going gets tough and there's going to be people that make things difficult.

"My worry is when your passion diminishes just a little bit you're probably not the right leader for the sport, and there's been a few things that have occurred where my passion has suffered, which is a really hard thing to say.

"It's an accumulation of things and sometimes you just want some of your own time back as well," he told BBC Radio Jersey.

Davis initially took over in 2015 with a two-year mandate, but members changed the rules to allow him to stay as president for a longer period.

In his time in charge Jersey's men have returned to the British Isles Championships, while the island has sent bowlers to the past two Commonwealth Games and various World Championships.

"I've always worked on the fact that you're going to please 80% of the people 80% of the time, that's part of the rough and tumble of any job," added Davis.

"I think sometimes there's things that are a bit more personal, a bit more sustained over a period of time.

"I guess you have to take a view at what point does what your doing as a volunteer - we're not paid within bowls - when that starts taking a bit more of a mental toll than perhaps it should, when the enjoyment gets sucked out of it more than it should, then maybe it's time to move on."

Five men represented Jersey at 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

Jersey's place on the international circuit is secure for 2024, but if no new committee is appointed next year then the future of the island as an international bowls nation could be under threat, according to Davis.

"The 2024 international programme is not going to be affected - if we can't find one volunteer in there to pull the team together and book a few flights we really are in a lot more trouble than not being able to find a committee.

"It'll be 2025 and beyond if there isn't a committee that's there, but I don't think it'll get to that stage.

"I'm very hopeful that something will be done, either between the clubs or between a group of members that will step up and run it.

"We've got far too many international opportunities, far too many international successes in recent times and going back a long way.

"Bowls is still one of the very few sports in Jersey that you can play on a truly world level."