ONE of the Island’s founding football clubs is heading back to its roots as the BAA prepare to re-enter the First Division a decade after dropping out.The team is currently on the hunt for more players as it bids to get a full squad by the month-end deadline.Bermuda Athletic Association (BAA) Club president John Doran is essentially building a new side as the club’s Commercial League outfit BAA Wanderers will continue.

However Adam Shaw, who played in the ISL with Royals this summer, and Sean Hill could move up while goalkeeper Doran, who played in the American Professional Soccer League before playing in the League of Ireland with Bray Wanderers and Longford Town, will take over in nets.

At 45, Doran, who also had a trial with Manchester United, is the oldest member of the squad, while some players are still in their teens.

A number of other players have come through BAA’s thriving youth system which has more than 100 kids from under-sevens to under-18s.

“Some guys are saying they want to play but they are waiting to see what their friends are going to do. That’s a bit frustrating but we do have 14 signed so far.”

Doran said there had been a push from both inside the club and within the Bermuda Football Association (BAA) to get the club back into the first division.

“With the new under-18 team coming on board this year we thought it was the right time to do it.

“To get our foot back in the door, then with the kids coming through if there is a slate of players already they will have some experience to draw on.”

Former Robin Hood player Derek Scott has come on board as coach and the twice a week training sessions are pulling in the numbers.

Doran said there was not that much difference in standards between the Commercial league’s top teams and the first division — other than age and fitness — and the Wanderers had enjoyed a reasonable record against first division sides in cup games in recent years.

Nevertheless he doesn’t have massive ambitions for the season.

“Realistically it’s a start. We will take one game at a time and try and get the ball rolling, literally, and get things moving.”

BAA’s entrance could make the division an odd number but it isn’t being viewed as a problem by BFA chiefs.

“They definitely want us in.” said Doran. “We have until the end of the month to hand in a team sheet.

“We have a long history — over 100 years old and first winners of the FA Cup. And with the facilities we have, by rights we should be there.

“The feedback from a lot of other clubs — and I got to a lot of the meetings and meet the other officials — they are pretty excited about having us back in.”