The controversial rule governing the release of players for the national soccer programme has been given the thumbs down -- at least for the time being.

Club affiliates, at an often turbulent special general meeting of the Bermuda Football Association on Wednesday night, voted against the rule change because they were dissatisfied with its wording.

However, the rule may have only been temporarily shelved as a three-man committee, chaired by Director Dr. Gerard Bean, was appointed to improve on the wording of the document outlining the rule. It is expected to be tabled for acceptance once again at the annual general meeting scheduled for next month.

Other elected members of the committee are Rudolph Hollis and Earl Hart.

The issue has proved controversial ever since new rules were implemented last season by BFA Technical Director, Burkhard Ziese.

The meeting itself proved an eventful one with heated disputes -- one which saw BFA director Fred (Pinks) Lewis storm out and not return.

However, BFA president Charlie Marshall, though clearly upset by the turn of events, remained optimistic that the issue concerning the release of players would eventually be resolved "to the satisfaction of all concerned''.

"There were many who felt that the rules were too stringent. They felt that it was not flexible in the wording and as a result of much deliberation a small committee has been appointed to look at the document,'' said Marshall.

"Hopefully they will be able to modify it satisfactorily by taking into consideration all of the concerns that have been expressed and come forward with a document to be presented at the AGM for acceptance. It will first be circulated to all affiliates prior to the AGM.'' The current dispute between the BFA and North Village was partially sparked by the new policy, and affiliates wasted little time stating their grievances.

Some indicated, prior to and during the meeting, that rules were being tailored to suit the wishes of Ziese and were a blatant attempt at covering up the Dwayne Adams' issue.

Several believed the association were wrong in the initial instance to suspend Adams following his failure to attend national team training sessions, and were now seeking to alter rules dictated by FIFA to "legitimise any such action in the future''.

Article 6, section 3, in particular, raised eyebrows, with power being given to the technical director to suspend players for failing to participate in the national programme.

However, Marshall said that the association were simply trying to implement a policy governing the players after commitments had been made to the national programme.

"It locks in the player if he signs a contract to the programme under certain conditions, but a lot of clubs felt that the wording was not flexible if the player wanted to get out for whatever reasons. They wanted to see better language presented in black and white,'' said the president.

The BFA's late announcement that the transfer deadline was to be extended to June 15 also came under fire, this having been confirmed last week to the dismay of many affiliates.

But many of the new policies regarding transfers and registration were accepted.

"Most of them will be implemented this year with exception of the 25 maximum team registration rule that was proposed,'' said Marshall. "We had recommended that there be a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 25 players allowed for each team, but they felt that there should be as many people registered as possible because of injuries etc., and they put forward an argument, so a motion was passed for our recommendation to be deleted.'' New forms dealing with the release of players concerned affiliates and also led to long discussion.

The new rule calls on a player wishing to transfer to present the form to his current club for approval, although there is a provision for the player to be released without a signatory from that club. The player then has until July 31 to register with a new club or return to his old one.

A player has from May 1 to June 15 to get the release form, then the BFA have from June 16 to June 30 to circulate the information to the clubs. There is also an accommodation for late registration from August 16 to August 31, primarily to cover players who have been abroad who are unable to make the original deadline for legitimate reasons.

"One of the unfortunate situations is that the BFA took a long time to conclude how we would do the process this year, but it's been done and that's the main thing,'' said Marshall.

"The whole process of transfers became so cumbersome to the office. To try and process 300-odd transfers on the last two days of the month is just too much. It's a step in the right direction, not a perfect one but nevertheless one we feel is a step in the right direction and an improvement on the previous policy.'' CHARLIE MARSHALL -- `There were many who felt the rules were too stringent'.