Cricket clubs have met with the Bermuda Cricket Board to voice their concerns about the direction the game is going.

Another meeting will take place next week with the BCB committee, ahead of the new season which is scheduled to start on April 16 with the Twenty20 tournament.

“One of the reasons behind our meetings is cricket locally is not where it should be and some of the things we want to propose is all about development,” said Willis Dill, the president of promoted team Western Stars.

“We want to ensure that the sport is being developed and we don’t see that. If you look around at cricket teams you see a few youngsters and every so often you get a talented youngster who comes through and makes the team. But there should be more of that.”

The structure of the league, which will have six teams playing three rounds of matches in the Premier Division while the First Division will play two rounds, was also brought up.

Over the years the league has switched from one division to two, with the top flight being reduced from seven teams last season to six this year.

However, Dill questions whether two divisions are helping developing young players.

“One of the teams I’m always excited to see play is Warwick because of the youngsters they have, but then other teams come and take their youngsters away,” Dill said. “And in some cases not even playing them.

“As far as the one league is concerned, there should be no issue surrounding what team I play for.

“But if a 15-year-old plays for my team I have to make a decision whether to play him against the top teams because all I’m worrying about is trying to stay in the Premier Division.

“Whereas if there is one league I don’t have to worry about that and I can take the time to develop the young player.

“Where a lot of the teams are solely into winning, we want them to shift the focus from winning to development.”

The BCB have leagues for under-8, under-11, under-14 and under-17 which will start next month, and are this week staging an Easter Clinic for seven to 13-year-olds at West Pembroke Primary.

However, one concern is those leagues end too early in the summer.

“Why are we only playing between April and June?” Dill asked.

“We should be having a league throughout the summer for these children, even in the evening time.”

Southampton Rangers, last season’s champions, have recognised the need for a viable youth programme and have made moves to attract youngsters in the area to their junior teams.

Ricky Brangman, the club’s head coach, has acknowledged that their senior team is ageing with several players in their late 30s or early 40s, making them one of the oldest Premier Division sides.

However, Dill’s club has shown what can be accomplished with a vibrant youth programme, their football team winning the Premier Division league despite being one of the youngest teams.

Another meeting will be held next week between the clubs and the BCB committee to continue the dialogue.

“I hope they have an open mind to a lot of the stuff we’re going to be pushing for,” Dill added.

“People need to understand that we’re not against the BCB, all we want is fairness and ensure that there is development.

“I haven’t heard too much opposition to one league, although I hear there is some.

“From what I’m hearing it’s from some of the big clubs because for them it’s all about winning.

“We have to look at the development of the player and that’s not what we’re doing.

“There are some clubs doing that. For instance, pretty much all of Bailey’s Bay’s players came through their programme, and they are able to maintain their top status despite every so often drafting in young players.

“All we’re trying to achieve is development, development, development. Nothing more, nothing less.”