Top brass at Premier Division outfit Boulevard Community Club have handed down a directive to all club officials and players prohibiting them from talking to the media, can report.

Blazers president Keith Fleming yesterday confirmed that a gag had been issued but failed to disclose reasons why the directive had been ordered in the first instance.

?We just decided against talking to the media,? he confirmed. ?We aren?t saying anything to the press right now and it?s not that we have something against the press.?

Flemming denied that the gag had been ordered following team official Amon Brown?s public criticism Bermuda Football Association (BFA) for granting teams containing three or more national team players among their ranks an option to postpone league or cup fixtures whilst the national team were competing in last month?s ill-fated Digicel Cup Tournament in St.Vincent.

As a result, Blazers sat idle for just over two -weeks.

?That was Amon?s (Brown) own thing,? Flemming continued. ?But Amon had actually been told before then not to talk to the press.?

Meanwhile, Blazers sneaked through to the Champions Cup Tournament following a 1-1 stalemate against Dandy Town last weekend and remain among the frontrunners for league championship honours.

Boulevard, whose 1997-98 Martonmere Cup triumph marked the last time the urban club won a major domestic title, will take on Devonshire Cougars in the Friendship Trophy semi-final on February 2 at a venue yet to be determined. first learned of the ban after requests to obtain interviews from national team defender Robert Wilson and sweeper Jahmarley Samuels were flatly denied by team officials during last weekend?s Premier Division top-of-the-table clash at St.John?s Field involving Blazers and Dandy Town.

Blazers pipped North Village by goal-difference to qualify for the next week?s inaugural Champions Cup Tournament.

Defender Wilson will miss his team?s opening contest in the new tournament after being sent off during last Sunday?s clash with Hornets while Blazers skipper, Melchisedec Gibbons is currently in a race against the clock to regain match-fitness after limping off injured against Somerset Trojans at Somerset Cricket Club on December 1.

Blazers prevailed over Trojans on penalty kicks to advance to the Friendship Trophy semi-finals after both clubs remained tied after extra-time.

Another player missing from last Sunday?s league clash against Town was super sub, Marvin Belboda, while inspirational player Meshach Wade has yet to return from a knee injury sustained during the Martonmere Cup group stage last September.

Despite enduring a disappointing Martonmere Cup campaign, Blazers have managed to hold their own in league play, suffering only one loss to date to PHC Zebras on October 31.

Blazers face a tough FA Cup second round clash with seven-time FA Cup champions, North Village, at BAA Field on Sunday.

Blazers last won the FA Cup in 1995-96 and again in 1996-97 before relegation to the First Division in 1997-98 signalled the end of a great era for the urban club who dominated the domestic scene in the 1990?s.

Between 1984-85 to 1996-97, Blazers captured two Premier Division championships, two FA Cup triumphs, three Martonmere Cup crowns, Friendship Trophy success in 85? and a sole Dudley Eve Trophy title in 1991-92.

Blazers returned to the top flight after spending two seasons in the First Division in 2001-02, clinching the coveted First Division league and Shield double in the process.