Bermuda Hogges have forged links with Major League Soccer (MLS) side Toronto FC in a football development agreement.The partnership will see the Canadian side’s coaches visit the Island this summer where they will hold a workshop, cast an eye over the Island’s best young players and attend at least two Hogges matches.In addition, TFC will provide a path for Hogges’ players and coaches to head in the opposite direction to Toronto to gain experience at the professional level.Stuart Neely, the TFC academy director, has been pushing for the agreement for more than a year and said he was well aware of the “raw talent” on small Island’s such as Bermuda.“It’s a straight-forward agreement. We want to build the relationship and help improve youth football on the Island as well as have a connection with the Hogges,” said Scotsman Neely. “We want it to be a top to bottom development programme for players and coaches.“I’m very familiar with football in the CONCACAF region and the smaller Islands. I’m well aware of the natural talent that’s there and I’ve been pushing the club from behind the scenes to do this for a year-and-a-half now.”Toronto’s director of player development, Paul Mariner, is a close friend of Hogges’ co-owner Scope’s and regularly visits Bermuda, where he often attends Hogges matches. Neely said Mariner, an ex-England international, had thrown his full support behind the link-up and believed there was a rich talent pool on the Island.“When I spoke to Paul Mariner, when he first came onboard, about a similar arrangement we have with a team in Barbados (Bagatelle FC), he immediately mentioned Bermuda. Paul has a connection to Bermuda and I’m excited about the possibilities for us there,” said Neely. “We’re looking to grow and expand what we do; we’d love to discover some international players who are able to play in the MLS.”Although it is a non-financial agreement, Neely believes the partnership will help Hogges drum up much-needed funds through corporate sponsors.“It’s an open agreement, that’s the joy of it. It’s a legal document but there’s no financial exchange; it’s about trying to better the game in both Canada and Bermuda,” he said. “The agreement will allow Hogges to promote and market the affiliation to help them drive up sponsorship. We will also be holding workshops as well as providing a coaching curriculum and a coaching exchange programme with the Hogges.“All of these football activities will help develop their club and our club.”Scope, who visited Toronto’s pre-season training camp in Orlando, described the affiliation as “a win-win situation” for both parties.“We have a verbal agreement to become an affiliate with Toronto FC. It’s a win-win situation for both parties; they’ll get to look at our players while their coaches are offering to work with our coaches,” he said.“During the scheduled gap in their season they’ll be coming to watch the Hogges play home and away. Hopefully we’ll be able to get a few of our young players away for trials.”Earlier this year, Neely announced that TFC’s owners had approved a $17.6 million investment in a new training facility and that plans were underway for the creation of a third academy team.Former Holland and Lazio midfielder Aron Winter took over at the start of the season as TFC coach.Ex-West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers striker Danny Dichio is coaching their academy’s senior side.Hogges’ opening game of the season is against Reading –United on Friday, May 27.