MY old club, St. George's, need a facelift and fast if they are to avoid being relegated this season.

It is clear that they are in a crisis as captain Ryan Steede resigned last week. The result that followed this past weekend was shocking and by St. George's' standards unacceptable as they were bowled all out for 28 by St. David's and currently sit at the bottom of the league table.

Just last year St.George's finished a respectable third place in the league under the captaincy of Steede.

Sadly though, even after such a creditable finish with a team that never trained at all, many critics/fans and players continuously showed no faith in Ryan. Personally, I feel he did a reasonable job considering the conditions and circumstances in which he was under.

No-one more than I knows what it's like to captain St. George's. It is pressure galore as the expectations are extremely high for success. With St.George's not having won a major trophy for years, the fans are becoming more and more demanding.

In some ways I feel guilty because I know growing up, Dean (Minors) and I were both groomed for this. The picture was clearly painted that we were to lead St.George's for the next decade.

However, due to personal reasons, both of us left the club and moved on to different pastures. Reality is that over the past 10 years, St.George's have been plummeting in a downward spiral where their programme is concerned and to many it has been camouflaged by their ability to find a way to win.

I recall when I became captain under my father's presidency, I asked that the club provide the team with two nets for the players in which to train. Here it is, ten years later and still no nets. That is totally unacceptable for a Cup Match club who should be setting the standard for other clubs to follow in Bermuda.

When I look back at my time in St. David's I can see how different the management team was in comparison. Together we managed to find sponsorship in CD&P, which enabled us to show appreciation to the players as well as provide them with the tools needed to develop themselves.

The players had new gear bags, T-shirts, caps, new cricket shirts, player of the week awards and more. By giving something to the players, we were now in a position to ask for more from the players in terms of dedication and commitment. What made that all possible is the club had a vision, and so did I, to make them the pre-eminent club on the Island.

St. George's are in a position right now where they do not have a coach, the players do not have a training facility and lastly the players are not committed.

Do they really think Ryan Steede was their problem? Ryan Steede was not the captain this week when the team were bowled out for 28. So who are they going to blame now?

This is definitely the lowest total ever by a St.George's team during my era and maybe ever in the club's history. Their problem is way bigger than Ryan Steede and the sooner they realise it the better.

How do St.George's get out of this mess they are in?

They must appoint a coach who is well respected and has good morals and values. He must be a disciplinarian and come in and have the full support of the selectors. The coach must focus on inviting the club's under-17 and under-14 players to train so that he has a bigger pool to pick from.

As a group they must not sway from their training demands and expectations and insist that if you don't train, you don't play - even if it means playing three under-14 players on a Sunday. Principles have to be set!

I urge the club to quickly put things in place and get it right because I cannot even imagine what would happen if St.George's were relegated. Personally, I hope this does not happen, but if it does it could be the wake-up call their programme needs.

For encouragement, I leave you with this scripture:

James 1: 2-4 (NIV)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.