Two club captains yesterday took dead aim at the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's (BCBC) notion of possibly moving to a `Super Eight' league format for the upcoming season.

David Jones of Somerset Bridge and Flatts' skipper Rodney Woolridge came out against the possible plan, which, if adopted, would mean the banishment of teams finishing in the bottom eight last season to a lower league.

"I think it stinks, as teams would only be playing at one level of competition,'' said Woolridge, whose Flatts outfit placed 13th last year in the Premier Division and would likely be placed in a First Division.

"It's more of the segregation thing...if you're not part of the big clubs you get cut off.

"It's the same way with the Bermuda team, you only have players from certain clubs.'' BCBC president Ed Bailey admitted on Wednesday that he had presented the idea of returning to the `Super Eight' during Tuesday night's meeting when fast bowler Quinton Burch was also added to the ICC squad for Kenya.

Cries for change in the present format were heard last season, as lopsided results between upper and lower echelon squads were said to be diluting the game.

Still, Jones disagreed with the board's "out of the blue'' march towards such a change at this particular time.

"I feel that it is not enough notice,'' said Jones, who guided Bridge to the Western Counties Championship, but could only manage ninth in the league.

"Nothing was said last year to give teams something to shout for. It's not fair for our players and youngsters looking forward to improving against top class players to suddenly have that opportunity taken away.

"It'll probably discourage some of the young guys that might want to leave a Commercial (League) team to play in the Premier Division against the best.

They'll see that they're right back where they started and could be lost forever from the game.'' Woolridge agreed, feeling that there was little continuity in local cricket, which he felt made it hard to adequately develop one's game.

He referred to recent times when the First Division was merely an after-thought, with attention devoted almost entirely on members of the top rung.

"There's too much chopping and changing from year to year and just when you get used to one thing it changes,'' he said. "Teams aren't settled.

"One minute we're playing open cricket the next (limited) overs, because of the ICC...what happens next, all day cricket? "They (BCBC) have to make up their minds as to what they really want to do.'' While Jones and Woolridge were the most vocal in their disagreement, there were others who agreed with the proposed plan.

Western Stars and Somerset Cup Match wicket-keeper Anthony Manders said that streamlining the league would make both divisions more competitive.

"There's a big gap between the top eight and the bottom teams.'' Chris Smith, captain of Eastern Counties champions Bailey's Bay backed Manders' opinion saying: "The `Super Eight' with limited overs would be great. It's more competitive, exciting cricket and you don't have weeks with the top teams playing against weak sides like Warwick and Social Club.'' Harbouring few reservations either way was Kevin Dill of PHC, relative newcomers to the league.

He indicated that his team had no place making any criticisms as they are still in a learning process and a split would not make much difference.