This Sunday?s full slate of First Division matches will go ahead as originally planned, Bermuda Cricket Board confirmed yesterday, despite the fact that they clash with the Belco Cup final at Lords.

Concerns among some Board members had arisen after the conflict was discovered.

But in a written statement handed to yesterday, BCB chief executive Neil Speight said: ?This is not a new development, last year the First Division was scheduled on the Sunday of the Belco Cup final and, as expected, the event was a huge success.?

Devonshire Recreation Club official and former Board executive Michael Glasford was of a different opinion.

?The BCB want us to support them in their efforts yet they go ahead and schedule us to play the same day as the Belco Cup final. And I think we shouldn?t be playing because it?s just not fair to the players themselves or the sponsors,? he argued.

?I know for a fact a lot of our players would love to have the day off to attend the Belco Cup, but they can?t because they have to play on Sunday.?

Devonshire are away to Leg Trappers at Sea Breeze Oval.

St.George?s Cricket Club are also among those who disagree with the Board?s decision and are presently seeking to have their match with Somerset Bridge rescheduled.

?I don?t know why the Board would even schedule other games during that day,? stated St.George?s coach George Cannonier.

Cannonier and team stalwart Herbie Bascome were initially scheduled to assist BCB director Wendell Smith perform various cricket drills during the lunch interval of Sunday?s final.

?We are supposed to be helping out with the coaching clinics at the Belco Cup,? added Cannonier, who is optimistic that his club?s request to postpone their game will be met favourably.

?I?d rather see the game postponed because we could also use a little break having just finished playing two?day cricket for three weeks straight.?

Cleveland County skipper Jason Simons, however, said he was prepared to play.

?It really doesn?t make too much of a difference because my players are ready to go,? he told ?It really isn?t an issue with us . . . it is minor and we have other things to focus on.?

Cleveland are away to Police at Police Field on Sunday.

Meanwhile, PHC coach Andre (Doc) Manders, whose side play Willow Cuts on Sunday, said he would have preferred to see First Division clubs have the day off.

?I can?t recall when other matches were scheduled the same day as the Belco Cup finaI,? he said. ?I don?t know why they (BCB) are now going about it this way. However, some of my players don?t really mind and want to play anyway.?

Willow Cuts stalwart Dexter Basden would have also preferred to have Sunday off to attend the final.

?How are they (Board) supposed to get the public?s full support by having other matches scheduled on that day,? he said. ?At least give the players an option to go.

?We would have preferred not to have played this weekend and be given the chance to help support local cricket.?