Western Stars Sports Club are hunting for a cricket coach after rumours surfaced that they would be unable to field a team for the upcoming season.

Stars struggled for players towards the end of last season and, despite gaining promotion to the Premier Division in the T20 competition, they were relegated to the First Division in the 50 overs league and failed to fulfil some of their matches due to lack of numbers.

Things have not got easier during the off season with Jaiden Manders, Seth Campbell, Temiko Wilson and Ryan Tyrell headed for the exit door during the transfer window. With only Bermuda international Tre Manders returning to the club, there has been speculation that the Pembroke-based outfit might not field a team this season because of a dearth of players.

However, club president Devarr Boyles is not ready to call time on the team just yet.

“We registered our team in January to play in the league,” the Stars president said.

“Some players have asked to be loaned out if we don’t have a team, but right now we still have a team and we’re not loaning out any players until that decision is made.

“Between now and May we want to build a team. We should start training at least by the end of the month and that then gives us March and April, a minimum of eight weeks, to prepare for the new season.”

Boyles is also hoping to appoint a new coach for the first-team squad after former Bermuda fast bowler Kevin Hurdle, the Stars coach last year, indicated he is unable to take charge as a result of increasing work commitments.

“We are trying to secure a cricket coach as we currently don’t have one,” Boyles told The Royal Gazette.

“Kevin Hurdle is unavailable to coach as has a different sort of employment, which impacts on him.”

Boyles is implementing a new cricket structure at the club and is hoping that the new personnel will attract players and coaches

“We haven’t been able to find a coach thus far that meets the club standards as it relates to where we’re trying to go in the new structure,” Boyles said.

“We have a new structure that’s similar to football. Hasan Durham is our cricket director, Justin Robinson is chief of operations and Jekon Edness is the academy head.

“That is the structure responsible for looking for a coach. We’ll let them figure it out and maybe one of them might have the appetite to coach again since Justin and Jekon have coached before.”