Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney has expressed sadness over the threat of Somerset Bridge Recreation Club being banned from Bermuda Cricket Board’s sanctioned leagues.A proposal to suspend the club from the First Division for falling in arrears in their annual financial dues to the BCB is to come under review during the Board’s AGM to be held later this month.“I think it’s a sad development obviously because Somerset Bridge Recreation Club have had challenges in recent years but not withstanding the very steep tradition as an established community sports club in the Somerset Bridge area that produced great cricketers and football players and have also had very successful youth programs at various times,” Minister Blakeney said. “Obviously it’s concerning I’m sure to the community as well as to those that are actively involved in the particular sport that is sanctioned under the respective national sports governing body.“There is obviously concerns that has caused the national sports governing body (BCB) to consider such a significant decision as to whether the club will be formally associated under the auspices of that national body or not. However, that is a matter for the respective national body in their consideration upon deliberation after I’m sure consulting with the club.”The Minister is concerned that Bridge’s potential suspension from playing in the BCB’s leagues in the current social climate could have a negative impact on the development of young men within the Somerset Bridge community.“It’s not a good thing when you don’t have within your community an established organisation that can sustain the kind of programs that help to develop character, responsibility, competitiveness and recreation through sports,” he said. “It’s actually a very sad development and I hope there would be those within the community that would step up and appropriately address whatever they are challenged with in meeting the Criteria.”The threat of being banned from the BCB’s leagues could prove to the be the latest setback for the White Hill club that has fallen on tough times in recent years.In 2005 it was revealed that Somerset Bridge owed Government as much as $82,000 in unpaid taxes.Two years later Government allocated $200,000 to the cash-strapped club to help them get their house in order. However, Somerset Bridge never received any of the allocated funding.“That was before my tenure so it would be remiss of me to make any comment on that without actually getting a handle on what occurred,” Minister Blakeney said. “But from my recollection, based on files, I don’t believe that the funds were actually allocated at that particular time to the club.”In 2008 Government demolished Somerset Bridge’s clubhouse amid promises to replace it with a “multipurpose complex” that has failed to materialise largely due to the current economic climate.“There has always been a plan but with the challenge we have in this climate with resources it’s not something that is immediately on the front burner with regard to the infrastructure development as was the original plan going forward at this particular time,” Minister Blakeney said.“But it is something that we would like to be in a position to move forward with as soon as it is a more favourable economic climate for the kind of capital investment that would be required to accomplish the objective regarding the development of a multi- purpose facility.”