Having completed his first season in office, Bermuda Football Association chief Larry Mussenden says the time is now ripe to take local soccer "to the next level."

Pronouncing his first year at the helm as a "successful one", the Bermuda Regiment major said there were now more initiatives the governing body were pursuing in the hope of making the sport more attractive to the clubs, public and players.

"We would like to work on taking things to the next level, improving the overall public perception of football in Bermuda, helping people to improve and reach their aspirations by way of public relations and special events," said Mussenden.

"We want to work with the clubs to develop their facilities and programmes, identify overseas colleges and universities that can offer scholarships to our players, so that they are given every possible benefit."

Next month the president said the association would be advertising for a senior national coach and were looking to jump-start the senior national programme by involving the squad in matches against foreign opposition later this year.

"We are also presently working on a website to push out our programmes in time for the new season and looking to hold a conference whereby executives can sit around the table and look at the entire football calendar from July of this year right along to June, 2003," he added.

Noting that he viewed his first year as successful, Mussenden said he remained hungry for more progress.

"We have tackled the issue of drug use at grounds head-on since day one, and according to our reports, families are coming back through the turnstiles and people are more mindful of their behaviour, and they feel its worthwhile to come back and make their own contribution to local soccer," he added.

Mussenden said he was also pleased with the work of his various committees and with the manner in which executives were communicating more these days through the media.

"We are happy to have established the post of director of youth development who will be looking at all aspects of the youth game - from location to the structure of leagues and cup competitions, to the certification of youth coaches and how the sport is being played at the academic level," he added.