A Sandys youth club has been forced to shut down by developers who own the property.

And the founder of the Sandys Youth Community Club at Daniel's Head claims he has been let down and misled by Government officials who, he claims, should have done more to keep the club running.

Last night Gerald Fubler confirmed the club closed its doors for the last time on Sunday after being ordered to leave the premises by owners the Bermuda Land Development Company by the end of the month. The site is to become an eco-tourist resort.

And he added that an offer by the Ministry of Youth and Sport to provide an alternative venue at Springfield was not acceptable -- because the club would then be subject to Government control.

Last night a disgusted Mr. Fubler said: "As of yesterday we were asked to vacate the building by the end of the month by BLDC and the developers of Daniel's Head.

"As late as January of this year I met with the Minister at Springfield and we were going to move the project up from Daniel's Head to Springfield. But now they want control of it and that's not part of the agreement.'' Mr. Fubler said that the Ministry offered him a job as a part-time supervisor at the future centre -- but also wanted to organise events and programmes. He added that the new facility was too small to cater for the 345 youngsters whom he supervised each week.

"I turned down the job because of all the lies -- I don't want to work for them,'' Mr. Fubler said.

"They said they wanted to interfere and wanted to have control and that's when I decided to step aside -- our programme is different. At Springfield we would be restricted in the type of activities we do.'' Mr. Fubler added that he had met with Premier Jennifer Smith at the club in February and, while she made no promises, he left the meeting under the impression that the club might even be able to stay at Daniel's Head.

Mr. Fubler said that, even if the Ministry of Youth and Sport does open up a club for youngsters at Springfield, it will not prove popular.

"I don't think they will continue with the Government scheme,'' he said.

"We are talking about adolescents. They don't want to be told what to do and if they see things as being compulsory they won't be interested. In this club they decide what they want to do, they make the decisions I'm just the supervisor.

"I recognise that things change but I just wonder if, had they stuck to my programme, there wouldn't be a problem.

"I am upset about it because I had a programme that worked.'' Mr. Fubler revealed that he now has plans to set up a new programme which will involve getting youngsters to help out senior citizens.

Last night Youth and Sport Minister Dennis Lister could not be contacted to comment on the matter.

Gerald Fubler