Despite failing to harness the support of club affiliates at last year's Bermuda Cricket Board of Control annual general meeting, former BCBC president Ed Bailey says he won't hesitate to give it another shot - if he can conjure some backing in time for next week's meeting.

Bailey surprised many last year when he made a last-minute decision to stand against Gary Fray for the vacated position of second vice-president. Fray went on to win by a unanimous 22 to 10 margin.

The AGM is scheduled for next Tuesday when at least two executive positions are expected to be up for grabs.

Though Board executives were remaining tightlipped yesterday, it's believed that assistant secretary Sharon Virgil and first vice-president Keith Wainwright will not seek another term in office - the latter having previously indicated that he had no desire to retain his current post or run against president Reggie Pearman for a second year in succession.

Many observers are now speculating that either Fray or Bailey will challenge for Wainwright's vacated post or even the presidency.

Pearman edged Wainwright by 17 votes to 15 to secure the top post at last year's AGM, held at Warwick Workman's Club.

"I think that all of Bermuda knows my interest in cricket. Being president for 14 years and having served in all the committees prior to that, I still have an interest to serve the Board in any way that I can because of the volumes of cricketing experience that I have - especially on the international basis," said Bailey yesterday.

"I haven't made myself available for any executive position but if I'm asked to attend the meeting then I shall and it will be up to the house whether or not they want to have me in any capacity. I will gladly offer my assistance but I'm not going there with the intention of contesting any particular positions."

Bailey served as BCBC president from 1984 to 1998 before El James took over at the helm. He is also an honorary president of Willow Cuts and a member of the MCC in London.

"I think that the cricket community in Bermuda are well aware of my ability and on a day to day basis many people still greet me on the street and ask me to get actively involved which is something that I really need to give some more thought to," added Bailey.

He suggested, however, that having elections on an annual basis was not in the best interests of the sport.

"I don't think that it is wholesome or in the better interests of the sport itself," he said. "When you start getting people putting policies into place and then being replaced by another person one year later then the continuity is lost. If we are going to advance the sport then we must also take into consideration the administrators as well and put the right mechanism in there so that you get very good management that are not subject to be removed the following year and see their policies through."

Bailey expressed a burning desire to see Bermuda reinstated to the Red Stripe Bowl competition in the Caribbean.

"I have a keen interest in getting that place back as I really worked hard to get Bermuda involved in the competition - especially after so many years that people felt we should be affiliated to the West Indies," he said.

"I am not blaming the administration or the players but certainly I would like to see us have more tours in Bermuda and for us to take more tours so that we can have more local players playing on a professional level."

During Bailey's tenure, the Island played host to several overseas tours by top Test playing nations, the likes of which have not been seen since.

"If we are to advance then you need tours, you need to play on better facilities and it doesn't only affect the players. We also need to embrace the umpires because you can't leave anybody behind here," added Bailey.

"Now the officiating has exceeded the level of cricket so we need to catch up a bit and my concerns would basically be to try and help out if the Board offered me a position - whether it was elected or non-elected - to use whatever expertise and contacts that I have.

"I think that I still have a lot to offer with my international expertise, having served on the ICC right up to the time I resigned and of course with my membership at MCC.

"It's not that I may seek to be president or anything like that. I just can't go out there and break down doors but if they (BCBC) want to use my expertise then I have always made it known that I would be available."

Asked yesterday whether or not he anticipated any challenges, either from within the current administration or outside, president Pearman said: "This is a democratic country and anyone has the right to oppose me. It's all up to the affiliate members to select whoever they choose. That's how a democratic society works."