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A breakaway division independent of the BFA could be set up to replace the current Commercial Division amid fears that as many as 300 players will be forced out of organized football when the league is scrapped.

Players and coaches involved with teams like Tuff Dogs, Lobster Pot, MR Onions and Robin Hood, which are not affiliated with bigger clubs, fear there is no place for their teams in the new structure of local football.

Current Commercial A leaders MR Onions want to join the First Division and believe at least three extra slots should be opened up for sides like themselves and Robin Hood, who regularly do well against bigger clubs in cup competitions.

But others fear they will have to form a breakaway league, organizing their own fields and officials in the same way as the Sunday morning Breakfast League operates, if the BFA does not expand the First Division.

"If the BFA don't want to be associated with the league then I'm pretty sure these teams will form a breakaway league, but it's a shame if that has to happen," said Phil Anderson, coach of MR Onions and a player for Devonshire Colts.

Onions president Mark Dunlop, also a player, said the club would speak with the BFA about joining the First Division.

"We're a big club with three squads. We could accommodate a team in the First Division, a team in the Masters division and a team in the Sunday Breakfast league.

"If they allowed for 12 teams in the Premier and First Division that would open up five extra slots. The better Commercial teams could go up to the First Division and there would still be enough teams to fill the Masters league with the rest joining the Breakfast league," said Dunlop, who also runs the Sunday morning Breakfast League.

He said a lot of his players were too young for Masters football but worked long hours in tough jobs and weren't able to make the training commitment required by most First Division and Premier teams.

But he feels there is enough talent in Onions A squad to compete evenly with most First Division teams

Another commercial team president told the Bermuda Sun that plans were already under way to form a separate league.

He said the clubs would have to meet and discuss the implications of the new structure in the next few weeks.

The president said the new Masters League - which replaces the three Commercial divisions in the new structure - would only encompass 10 teams, leaving 14 Commercial League sides out in the cold.

He predicted that those 10 Masters league slots would go to teams affiliated with the big clubs like Dandy Town Roots, St. George's All-stars and Somerset Extros leaving no room for teams like Robin Hood or Lobster Pot.

Anderson added that as many as 300 footballers, some of whom were not good enough or could not meet the training demands of the Premier or First Division, would be forced out of organised football in the new structure.

"The conclusion seems to be that there is no development of youth at these clubs so they don't have a purpose. Well the purpose of them is to allow hundreds of people to play football - something they have a passion about.

"You're talking about close to 300 players with nowhere to go. Even if they're good enough to go and get into a First Division or Premier League squad then they will be taking someone else's spot. The bottom line is around 300 players will lose the opportunity to play competitive football.

"I read Derek Broadley's comment in the Sun that the Commercial League was 'selfish'. That's an extraordinary comment to come out of his mouth and it just isn't accurate."

Anderson said MR Onions paid fees to BAA for training facilities to a local school for use of their gym and to St. David's for use of the pitch on match days.

He said the funds from Commercial Clubs - including player registration with the association - may not be a lot but they were more than enough to justify the small amount of time and resources that it takes for the BFA to run the league.

"These teams bring in revenue to the BFA. It's not a great amount but it doesn't cost a great amount to administer."

The BFA believes that the drain on its resources in terms of referees, wear and tear on pitches and weakening the player pool available to clubs at a higher level justifies the decision (see separate story).

But Anderson's views have been reflected across the board by Commercial teams affected by the changes with players voicing their protest on blogs and other forums. Other Commercial players, who did not want to be named, said they were upset at the decision and did not know where they were going to play in future.

Anderson said he was disappointed that provision had not been made to include one or more of the Commercial teams in the new first division.

He believes the standard of football in Bermuda is very high but would benefit from the contrasting style of an MR Onions or a Robin Hood playing at a higher level.

"The standard and skill level of footballers in this country is very, very high for a population of this size," said the Englishman.

"But there are a lot of what I would call Coca Cola players who have got all the tricks but don't do the simple things well.

"It's just my opinion but I don't think getting rid of the Commercial League will do any favours to Bermuda football. It seems narrow minded in terms of looking at the wider community of football."[[In-content Ad]]

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