to step down next week by a rebel group of club representatives.

Following word that president Ed Bailey, first vice-president Rudolph Lawrence and secretary Wilton Smith were on top of the hit list, it has been revealed that second vice-president Ellsworth Christopher and treasurer Wally Manders will also be asked to stand aside as the group attempt to make a clean sweep of local cricket's governing body.

Bailey and his executive will be told of the rebel group's plans at a special meeting slated for next Tuesday at Warwick Workmen's Club.

It is understood that Christopher and Manders might be supported by some representatives for re-election, but others believe a total clear-out is required in order to get the sport back on track following humiliating defeats by the national senior team at this year's ICC Trophy in Malaysia and more recently the junior team at the International Youth Tournament.

Next week's meeting, called by a group of concerned clubs, follows a series of meetings by affiliated members upset by what they view as a chronic decline in the sport, particularly in administrative matters.

The clubs are believed to have scheduled yet another meeting tonight, at which they are understood to have invited additional ex-players who they feel share their concerns and could help form a new executive committee.

"The BCBC were handed notification of the meeting on Tuesday and we intend to go ahead with plans to stop the destruction of cricket, whether it means them doing the honourable thing and resigning or leaving us with no alternative but to call a vote of no confidence. Something must give,'' said one source.

"We are not out just to make a change. We are approaching this whole thing with common sense, sensitivity and with the interest of keeping the sport of cricket we so dearly love alive.'' One new concern, added to an already long list of grievances that members have with the Board, is the disciplinary hearing against two members of the recent Bermuda ICC Trophy team that travelled to Malaysia.

A committee was named over two months ago, yet a hearing has still not taken place, putting the players -- Charlie Marshall and Corey Hill -- and their Cup Match clubs in limbo with the mid-summer classic just two weeks away.

"Everything they seem to do smells of incompetency and here is just another example. Something that should have been dealt with swiftly has been allowed to linger on,'' said the source.

If a new committee is elected, it will serve for an interim period until the annual general meeting later this year.

Meanwhile, Bermuda's six successive defeats in the recent International Youth Tournament has highlighted the problems that exist at the junior level, according to former cricketer St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker who says he is not among those members behind the BCBC overthrow, although he firmly supports a leadership change.

Tucker said he was disappointed by the Bermuda team's showing, particularly as an Island team has twice won the event in the past.

"It tells you that we have an awful lot of work to do when it comes to developing young players,'' said Tucker, who watched all of Bermuda's games.

"We have some talented players but they need attention, the assistance of a good national coach and a structured programme. A full-time coach is a must.''