TEN players with Bermuda's national cricket squad signed financial contracts yesterday with the Bermuda Cricket Board.

But BCB chief Reggie Pearman refused to say how much the contracts were worth stating that the amounts would come out at a later time.

Pearman said: "At this time we take the position that it is a contract agreement between players and ourselves (BCB). We will not be divulging any figures as such."

When it was pointed out that the money came from the taxpayers, Pearman said: "It is still a contract between the players and ourselves but in due time I guess the figures will come out."

The contracts, or compensation plan, will be in force until March 31st next year when the World Cup will be played in the West Indies.

Allen Richardson, vice president of the BCB, said that the contracts will be backdated to November last year and will be reviewed at the end of April this year.

He said the review was essential because of "availability". He added: "There is no point contracting someone over a period of time if he breaks his leg or something. This is a new process for all concerned and we don't want to divulge too much at present because it is a work in process and we don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot until have have everything covered."

Outside the ten players who signed the contract, other players will receive match fees and expenses when they go on tour. "All will be compensated," said Richardson.

Dean Minors, one of the player's representatives, said: "We appreciate with the way the board has dealt with this matter. Unfortunately as everyone knows, we had hard time in Dubai (see Page 16) but I do believe that with this contract and the support of the Government behind us we are going to have positive results. We know what we are up against and we are trying to work as hard as we can to sort things out. We are looking to move ahead."

Asked if there is more pressure on the players after signing financial contracts, national team player Janeiro Tucker said: "There is a lot of added pressure on us just going out there and trying to please Bermuda. But mostly we are trying to please ourselves first. But when it comes down to the way things went down there in UAE it didn't go as good. But in the long run things will work out well for the players."

Richardson said that the key elements of the package included:

Any player that is not granted representative leave by his employer will be fully reimbursed by the plan.

Any player selected for an Academy will receive adequate compensation.

All players will receive a match fee for each game they play in.

Players will be eligible for win-bonuses on a per game and per tournament basis.

Certain players will be contracted to the Board for defined periods and receive a monthly stipend.

The ten players contracted by the BCB are captain Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, Irving Romaine, Dean Minors, Dwayne Leverock, Ryan Steede, Kevin Hurdle, Lionel Cann, Hasan Durham and Saleem Mukuddem.