Bermuda Football Association have juggled with the Premier Division schedule to alleviate an anticipated shortage of match officials.

Instead of the vast majority of matches being staged on Sunday afternoons, fixtures will be spread over the weekend, with more games than before being played on Friday and Saturday nights.

BFA Competitions Committee chairman Craig Tyrrell explained the thinking behind spreading out the fixtures more thinly.

"There is a shortage of officials and we are trying to alleviate that,'' said Tyrrell. "This way, we will make sure there will always be enough officials for all the matches.'' With the downsized Premier Division now comprising just eight teams, the changes could mean just two top-flight matches on a typical Sunday.

Tyrrell added that the schedule for league matches, which start in October, was still being finalised and should be released later this week.

Lyndon Raynor, president of Bermuda Referees' Association, said: "I have to admit that there is going to be a shortage of referees and I think that if there is anything that is going to alleviate the scheduling problem, then I have nothing to say against that.

"If it means doubling up and putting games on Friday and Saturday nights and limiting the Sunday to the other two in the top division then so be it...and until such time when our numbers (referees) are back to a level where we can have a full slate of matches on Sunday afternoons, what else can be done?'' Raynor was not yet sure how many referees would be available this season.

"I know that Gary Cook has definitely retired and there are a few others who have suggested that they will not be available, but we haven't got official confirmation of their status. We expect to have less to choose from this season compared to a year ago.

"When you think that referees have to do Alliance and Commercial as well, I won't be surprised if there are not enough officials to do those.''