Bermuda Football Association (BFA) and Bermuda Hogges have held clear-the-air talks in a move to solve their grievances and map out an action plan for the upcoming USL-D2 season.

Local football's governing body have largely been at loggerheads with the semi-pro franchise since their inception in 2006, with 'club versus country' rows over player availability and domestic fixture clashes proving to be the major stumbling blocks.

According to Hogges president Shaun Goater both parties must share a portion of the blame for their "lack of understanding", but he firmly believes they are now singing from the same hymn sheet after thrashing out their differences at a recent get-together.

He hopes there will be no repeat of the disharmony particularly prevalent during Bermuda's World Cup campaign and the Hogges sophomore season earlier this year – with the BFA now under a new regime.

Goater, along with coach Kyle Lightbourne and co-owner Paul Scope, met with newly appointed BFA president Richard Calderon, twin brother Robert Calderon and technical director Derek Broadley – who joined Scope at the USL's recent AGM – earlier this month and described their dialogue as "very encouraging".

"We've both (Bermuda Hogges and Bermuda Football Association) been to blame for our lack of understanding but I now feel we're singing from the same hymn sheet," said Goater.

"Last season we had players doing intensive fitness work with the national team and coming back to us shattered. We were also concerned about the conflicting messages the players were receiving by different coaches. There was a lot of disruption and after all we were paying the players to play for us.

"I think the crucial thing is we both utilise the players better than we have done. The meeting was very positive and I feel very encouraged as we look to move forward."

During the brain-storming session a series of suggestions of ways to improve the Hogges' and BFA's working relations were aired, including having visiting USL-D2 teams play a Bermuda Under-23 side during their trip.

It's understood the BFA would also like to see games between teams from their national junior programme precede the Hogges' home matches.

"A number of solutions were discussed by both parties to the problems we have faced over the past two seasons," said Goater. "They (BFA) came up with some very good ideas and are keen for our visiting teams to play a match against Bermuda Under-23s while they are here.

"Another suggestion was to have a Bermuda Under-17 or Under-20 team playing a match prior to the Hogges game. This would not only give our Island's best young players a run-out at the National Sports Centre but also help bump up our attendances and introduce more people to the Hogges concept."