* James Whittaker photo. Damon Ming and most of his Bermuda Hogges’ team-mates could be without a club to play for next summer if the side moves to the PDL, which has roster age restrictions.
The Bermuda Hogges are on the verge of pulling out of the United Soccer League Division Two.
After three seasons of struggle on the pitch and financial difficulties off it, the Hogges are considering dropping out of the semi-professional league. The club, owned by former pro Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and Paul Scope, is considering a switch to the PDL Under-23 league - a move that would dramatically change the scope and make-up of the squad.
The bulk of the current squad would have to be replaced to meet the PDL guidelines which state that a maximum of eight players on each team's 26-man roster can be over 23 years old, while at least three players on each team's roster must be 18 or younger.
Everyone on last year's Hogges' roster was over 23-years-old except Seion Darrell, who was 23. If they make the move to the PDL, only eight players will be able to be re-signed by the club unless they get some sort of exemption.
Bermuda Hogges president Paul Scope dispelled rumours that his club was folding up shop.
"That's definitely not true," Scope said in response to an Internet report that the Hogges were out of the USL next season, being replaced by a Bermuda Football Association team. "The Hogges will be playing next year, I'm pretty sure of that."
He said the Hogges are working the BFA on what would be best for Bermuda football going forward.
"We're also working with the USL to where we will be playing next year. We still have options open to which league we'll be playing in."
He said the Hogges could possibly field a team in the Player Development League (PDL) instead.
"That's not certain, yet. We haven't finalized any discussions yet. We're looking at the best options for Bermuda football. We are certainly in discussions with the BFA as to what that should be."
He said the Hogges could still field a Division 2 side.
"We haven't committed to USL 2, but we are working with the USL and I'm sure they'd accept us in USL Division 2 if we wanted to go that route."
Scope said that it's not matter of playing Division 2 or Division 1, but what's right for the long-term development of local talent.
"Our mission is to improve football in Bermuda. Each year we look at what's the best way to go forward. The league doesn't start until April."
He said the Hogges just returned from a USL meeting in Tampa and there are more meetings to be held and it would be premature to say which division the Hogges will be playing in 2010.
"There's a lot of things we can't say right now, because we don't have definitive agreements, but one thing I can say is that we'll definitely be playing next year."
Scope said there were lots of options and he wouldn't rule out a return to Division 2 or the Hogges fielding both a PDL squad and a Division 2 team.
Last season a Bermuda Under-23 team played visiting Division 2 teams when they came to the island to play the Hogges. Many of those players could end up forming the core of a Hogges' PDL team.
