Bermuda Hogges can expect to be challenging for championship honours in less than two years, according to USL bigwig Tim Holt.

The USL executive vice-president envisages the Island’s first ever footballing franchise becoming a real force in the near future and is impressed by their progress on and off the pitch.

He has watched with interest as the Hogges slowly hatched from their franchise egg and said he has not been overly surprised by their inauspicious start — which saw them win their only their first game this week against New Hampshire Phantoms.

Holt, who hails from Philadelphia, reckons Lightbourne’s team will soon be occupying the upper-echelons of the USL Divison Two and could pave the way for an influx of Caribbean islands to join the league.

He had sent an encouraging email to Hogges co-owner Paul Scope following their morale sapping 1-0 defeat to Wilmington Hammerheads last week.

In the email he said he believed they would be “one of the best stories in the USL” this season and that wins would soon ensue.

“We have been pleased with the progress Hogges have made both on and off the field,” Holt told The Royal Gazette today.

“It’s always a challenge for new expansion teams to establish themselves in this professional soccer league.

“In the Hogges’ case that’s magnified as they are a foreign team who use exclusively Bermudian players. But we’ve been impressed with their professionalism and Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and Paul Scope have definitely created the right culture at their club.

“I was pleased to hear they won their first game and that should act as a springboard for the remainder of the season.”

The backroom staff have continually drawn comparisons between the Hogges struggle and USL Division One team Puerto Rico Islanders — who blazed a trail for non-Amercan teams when they joined the league in 2004.

It took the Islanders ten games to record a victory and Trott believes that should provide a modicum of comfort as the Hogges look to build on their first three-point haul.

“Hogges face a similar challenge as the Puerto Rico Islanders who joined the USL amidst a wave of excitement but lost their first ten games,” he said. “It was hugely frustrating for them as they had some talented players and a great fan base but couldn’t adapt to the style of play. “They got their first win and went on a run and now they’re one of the better teams in the USL Division One. In two years’ time the Hogges will be challenging for the championship along with Charlotte Eagles and Richmond Kickers — I’m sure.

“They represent something special for us and due to their help and support we’ve been able deviate the league to accommodate them.

“Along with fellow expansion teams Crystal Palace Baltimore, who are associated with the more famous English club, and the Cincinnati City Stars, made up of ex-professionals, they have also offered us something uniquely different.

“Maybe they will pave the way for Caribbean countries to enter if their federations view it as a way of developing their national game.

“I think it will have a knock-on effect for Bermuda’s national team — you can only improve players by exposing them professionalism, travel, and alternative styles of football.”