THE last-minute axing of Shelly Bay One as a Commercial League venue has thrown the fixture list into disarray. League chiefs are desperately hunting for new venues to plug the gap for around half a dozen teams which use the Hamilton parish pitch.

Bermuda Football Association League and Cup Competition Chairman Charles Clarke lamented the fact that Government had opted to wait for the football season to do the work rather than use the summer to resurface the pitch.

He said: "There is much more use of the pitch for football rather than cricket. Sunday teams also use the venue. We only found out about it two weeks ago."

Clarke hopes other football clubs can help out by loaning pitches but admits options are limited given the heavy use made by clubs running programmes from junior and girls football all the way up to senior sides.

He said: "It isn't looking that great but we will have a season ? some way we'll work something out.

"We have written, then rewritten and then redrawn the fixture list. The only thing certain is the Premier Division will start on October 1 ? the rest has yet to be decided."

Pitch possibilities include the open space at Malabar ? beyond the pitch used by Island Rangers ? which has previously been used for games.

"We looked at Kindley Field but that needs some work."

Talks are also being held on using Garrison Field in St. George's.

Teams who could be looking for a new venue include Hamilton Parish, Boulevard, Valley, Wolves and Island XI although the smaller Shelly Bay Two will be in action although Clarke believes this too will be revamped the following season.

Clarke also revealed Dandy Town Roots A, relegated last season in their first season in the top flight have had a last-minute reprieve after B division runners up Vasco Mariners opted to stay put rather than move up alongside Island XI.

Third-placed Hamilton Parish refused the chance of promotion so BFA chief opted to let Roots stay.

"Some people might say we didn't go through the normal channels but Dandy Town expressed interest in staying," said Clarke.

The move is natural justice for Roots A who had been several points ahead of the other relegation-bound teams when they fell foul of a belated rule change to drop three teams instead of two.

The Over-30s C league will continue despite a dwindling number of teams. Somerset Extros have been promoted to the B division while the hoped for emergence of a Tuff Dogs C team has failed to materialise.

A huge question mark hangs over Warwick Workmen's Club who were turfed out last season after consistently failing to field a side.

Prison Officers have had their belated request to move to Division B turned down after signing a number of Under-30 players so they will continue in the C league despite having under-age players.

The C league, which was wrapped up by early February last season, is now down to five or six teams, something which could lead to teams playing each other three times to allow more playing time said Clarke.

"We are looking at that or maybe having some kind of knock out."

The race for the A division title promises to be wide open this season with last season's champions Key West shedding some of their best players.

Jahmal Samuels, Karl Roberts and Webster Mills are all on their way out while last season's runners-up MR Onions have picked up former PHC striker Phil Anderson and could mount a stronger challenge.

Meanwhile both Commercial A sides North Village Rams and Robin Hood are both vying to sign legendary former-pro Shaun Goater for this year's campaign.