Jersey Bulls consider costs before making FA Cup return

Jersey Bulls drew 2-2 with Worthing at Springfield on Saturday before losing their replay 5-0

Jersey Bulls boss Elliot Powell says the club will have to carefully consider whether they enter the FA Cup next season.

Bulls reached the second qualifying round but were knocked out after losing 5-0 to National League South side Worthing in their replay on Tuesday.

The island side returned to the competition after pulling out last season due to logistical issues surrounding Tuesday evening replays.

Under FA Cup rules, offshore sides such as Jersey Bulls, Guernsey FC and FC Isle of Man can host ties if they are drawn at home, but any replay must be hosted on the English mainland, even if ordinarily the island side would be at home.

"The financial implications are really difficult," Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

"Booking flights last minute for a replay on Tuesday, luckily we were meant to be away from home anyway, but you're still going to adjust the travel.

"You've obviously got to share the gate receipts, and trying to get teams in and out - Worthing didn't want to come on the flights that we wanted them to come on - so that then creates an additional expense once again.

"The winter timetable for flights isn't great, and the timetable we're in right now isn't great either, so it's just unfortunate the timing of the FA Cup for us, in terms of how expensive it is.

"So if there's anyone out there with any sort of ideas on how, not just for us, but for Guernsey as well, how can we make the FA Cup more affordable, because they're great competitions to be in and showcase what both islands can do."

'Puts us in shop window'

Bulls' trip to Worthing represented arguably their toughest-ever challenge.

The tie was the first time since the club was formed in 2019 they had played a competitive game against a side in the sixth tier of English football.

Having drawn 2-2 at Springfield - after being 2-0 up - the islanders could not match their semi-professional opponents in the replay as they went down 5-0 in Sussex.

"We're disappointed that we haven't gone through, but it was an uphill battle," he added.

"Our opportunity was Saturday, but we've given a really good account of ourselves for well over one-and-a-half games against a side that are paid to do it.

"To get a glamour tie against Worthing, to take that to a replay in front of 1,000 people - I think that's our biggest-ever away gate - so it's been brilliant for all of us, whether that's young players, older players, coaches, it puts us in the shop window.

"It very much gives us that opportunity to showcase what we do as an island.

"It was well documented how well we punch above our weight as an island on lots of sporting fronts and hopefully football over the past three or four days have done that both with the men's team and the women's team as well."