With a game in trouble off the field as well as on it, Bermuda Cricket Board’s new administration are preparing to take a more hands on approach to some of the issues affecting the game.From player apathy to clubs that fail to adequately discipline players, and the on-going row within the Eastern Counties Cricket Association, the next year is likely to see the Board stamp their authority on all areas of the game. Not even Cup Match will be out of reach.While Lloyd Fray, the BCB president, appreciates the need for a softly, softly approach, that will be accompanied with a determination to solve the numerous problems plaguing the game, some of which have been dragging on for years.“The Bermuda Cricket Board has to get involved in all aspects of cricket, even Cup Match to a degree,” said Fray. “It is about making sure that those (events) traditionally East and West, Somerset and St George’s, haves a role for the BCB there.“The same players that play Cup Match, they play in our domestic league, they play in our national team, the BCB has to get involved.”Traditionally Bermuda cricket has been strong when county cricket is strong. However, county cricket hasn’t been strong for quite some time, and while Central Counties have managed to avoid the pettysquables that have afflicted the other two associations, they have their own troubles and just two teams contested their trophy last year.Fray knows the importance of getting these issues resolved sooner rather than later and has already taken steps towards that goal.“That is something that we (the Board) have discussed,” he said. “It all comes under development and enhancing cricket and the counties play a major role in that.“So, my approach is yes, the BCB would approach it gently but with the nudging and understanding that we try and bring some sort of resolution.”Central to Fray’s election campaign was a belief that cricket could be improved if clubs and players bought into the BCB’s ideas for the future. And the president hopes that success in that will have a positive impact on the national team and the game in general.If that fails then national squad players may be asked to sign contracts which say they understand the demands and commitment that will be asked of them and understand the penalties for failing to live up to those standards. They won’t be one-way deals however. Fray would like to be in a position to be able to pay players at some point in the future.“Contracts are certainly something that’s on the table but even before a contract there is a lot of work to be done,” said Fray. “Playing for country should be first and foremost, it’s an honour.“In order for these things to take shape from a contract standpoint you have to get guys believing in that (the honour of playing), that’s what I’m going to be doing personally as president is to get people to believe in that.“Not just talk about it and say it, but believe in it. But the support has to be there for the players and that’s not just from making sure that you have the adequate tools for cricket but beyond that.“What do you need from job perspective that we can probably assist with, these guys are not paid players, they’re giving up valuable time and with the economy as it is, guys are working two, three jobs.“It’s tough, that’s why my long term plan is to have that in place, where we can possibly pay players. We have talked about a contract but it’s easy to get someone to sign their name to a piece of paper saying ‘this is what we expect’, but it doesn’t go anywere if you don’t believe in it.”