Guernsey Football Association (GFA) has insisted that it will continue funding its development centre, despite the decision by troubled Portsmouth Football Club (PFC) to stop meeting venue hire costs.

The GFA revealed that it is facing a bill of more than £2,000 to hire pitches at Baubigny Schools and the Scout headquarters at Rue Mainguy, following the Premier League club's withdrawal. PFC took responsibility for the finances and operation of GFA's development centre last summer after initially having an arms-length involvement with the scheme since its launch in January 2009.

However, the club's recent financial issues have caused it to pull the plug on its funding towards GFA, a decision which the governing body said that it had expected for "some weeks". GFA chair Mark Le Tissier said: "The GFA has no major league sponsor and is short of money itself, but we do intend to meet all outstanding costs from the reserves we originally set aside to fund the centre from the beginning.

"The centre was a key part of our four-year strategy and we believe it is important to keep it going. The project is having a major positive impact on the local game and the link to a professional club is vital in providing a pathway for our young players."