IN LESS than a week from now yet another shake-up within Bermuda Football Association may be complete.

And some - perhaps many - would say `not before time'

There's no doubt that under the command of Neville Tyrrell, local football has endured some torrid times, not all of them, it should be said, triggered by the governing body's president and executive.

Indeed, it could be argued that should Tyrrell stand down _ he resigned at the recent annual general meeting but has not made it clear whether he will run again when the meeting reconvenes next Tuesday _ he will leave football in better shape than he found it. Although that isn't saying a great deal.

His tenure, unfortunately, will be remembered for a less than cordial relationship with former technical director Clyde Best and a failed World Cup campaign.

In recent months there had been signs that the sport was progressing with the appointment of Mark Trott as senior national coach and a number of national team programmes at various age levels put into place.

But all too often the good work has been diluted by poor communication.

The BFA are notorious for shutting up shop whenever things go wrong, and unfortunately the lines of communication aren't much clearer when the news is encouraging.

Current confusion surrounding the BFA is a case in point. With the annual general meeting having been closed to the media, we, and subsequently the public, have no idea what transpired before it was adjourned late last month.

Tyrrell has confirmed that he tendered his resignation but has refused to say why, and declined to comment on reports that he intends to put his name forward again when the AGM reconvenes. Some have said he was simply seeking a vote of confidence.

If that was the case, it now appears to have backfired. The latest, we hear, is that Tyrrell will not stand for re-election.

Prominent lawyer Larry Mussenden has thrown his hat into the ring and has been endorsed by former national coach Robert Calderon, who himself had expressed an interest in running.

Not wanting to challenge Mussenden, whom he considers a viable candidate, Calderon has said he may instead run for the vacant post of second vice-president.

Together that tandem, on paper at least, would seem to hold some promise.

Both are respected professionals, Mussenden more than familiar with the inner workings of the BFA and Calderon, as a past national team player and coach, an astute student of the game itself.

But their election is far from fait accompli.

As we've seen at past BFA annual general meetings, anything can, and usually does, happen. When Mark Trott challenged Tyrrell at the same meeting a year ago, he entered the room convinced he had the backing of the majority of affiliates.

He was wrong.

Mussenden and Calderon could yet face an unexpected challenge.

Hopefully, however, the affiliates will come to their senses and install an executive committee that can finally get football back on track.

Mussenden and Calderon together, we believe, would be a sound choice.

* * *

MY good friend John Kane, President of the World Rugby Classic, apparently took exception to last week's column in which some of Clay Smith's antics on the cricket pitch were compared to those scenes often witnessed on a soccer or rugby field.

John pointed out that while rugby was a contact sport, it was still very much a game in which sportsmanship prevailed. Incidents that occurred on the pitch were quickly forgotten at the final whistle and there was rarely evidence of the petulance which seems to have infiltrated local cricket.

By and large, you're probably right, John.

But it isn't unheard of for a rugby player to emerge from the scrum minus an ear or the tip of his nose.

And cauliflower ears and black eyes might still seem to some to be part of standard rugby kit . . .

- ADRIAN ROBSON