The worst kept secret in soccer is out - Kenny Thompson has been officially unveiled as Bermuda's new director of youth development.

The North Village technical director and Cedarbridge Academy teacher is set to relinquish those roles on May 1 to take one of the Bermuda Football Association's key posts.

And within minutes of taking up the reins the new man unveiled his blueprint for the future of youth soccer on the Island.

Thompson said he wanted to establish a national youth academy so that the Island's most promising youngsters could pit their wits against players of equal ability.

"The national team academy concept is to ensure that our best players receive a higher level of training against players of their calibre," he said. "Because at the end of the day easy winning makes players lazy.

"If we have elite players playing against players of a lower level then they don't have to do the necessary things that would be otherwise required."

Once set up Thompson said he hoped others would ensure the academy flourished.

"We need to ensure that our top junior players are receiving the best instruction to better aid their development," he said.

"I see this as a short-term vision because eventually we hope to place the academy concept in the hands of the clubs."

It has been a drawn out appointment by the BFA, but Thompson believes it has been worth the wait.

"I have always had a lifelong dream of becoming involved at the administrative level," he said, after being presented by BFA President Larry Mussenden and chairman of the Association's Technical Committee Robert Calderon.

"My first assignment will be to meet with the executives of the technical committee to discuss a list of recommendations and new concepts in regards to how we can improve soccer here on the Island at the junior level."

Thompson, a former Bermuda international who also coached the Under-17 national team in recent times, said he wanted to bring a feeling of passion back to the game.

"We have to take the direct approach and improve the existing youth competitions," he said. "Create an environment in which players are motivated to want to play well and are also motivated to prepare to play well.

"Structure is very important, as is the environment in which we put the youngsters in. But more critical are the instructions that we give them. So, we will also be getting together with the various clubs to assist them in structuring their youth programmes in a way that aids development and improves the level of coaching at the same time."

Thompson said it was also important to cater to players of all levels, whether they wanted to play professionally or just enjoy a `backyard kickabout'.

"It is important we have programmes for specific levels," he said. "We have to have elite programmes that benefit elite players and, at the same time, implement programmes that are going to benefit those players who are still developing in technical and tactical terms and those who just want to play for recreation or exercise.

"Some players are motivated to do great things ... others are just interested in football for recreational sake ... at the end of the day, as administrators of football, we must ensure that there are programmes for everyone who wants to play football at whichever level."

Thompson, who has US Soccer Federation A and B licences, an International Coaching Course certificate from the Dutch FA and a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, said, technically, he would not be leaving North Village behind.

"We don't look at it as leaving North Village as such," he said. "Because, basically, now I have become the youth director of all clubs - including Village. It's not something where we look at it as a loss for them, more importantly it's a gain for football in Bermuda."