Government will not be investing any further in football until a host of proposals are deliberated upon and other issues resolved, Sports Minister Dale Butler revealed yesterday.

Speaking in the wake of Bermuda's exit from the World Cup, Butler told The Royal Gazette football “has a lot of potential” but needs “help embracing people”.

“The door is too closed and a new vision of embracing others needs to be implemented or it (football) will get the same result while other sports progress,” he said, adding: “There is obviously a lot of potential in Bermuda but we have to be realistic about what we can and cannot do.

“At the moment we do not have the resources to fund football or cricket to the extent that the associations want.

“Therefore it will require a combination of corporate sponsorship and Government, and most important of all, a marketing plan” - a view shared by national coach Kenny Thompson who urged the corporate sector, Government and the entire community to “invest” in local football shortly after watching his team battle to a 2-2 draw with El Salvador on Sunday night.

“Until the BFA (Bermuda Football Association) accept that they can achieve more by having a plan that embraces new ideas and move in a timely fashion, we will end up in a race with few resources watching opponents - who took advice and were creative - go by and make it to the finish line,” Butler continued.

“Football has a lot of potential but still needs help with embracing people and the Ministry stands ready to help. We must have willing hands on board who are open to suggestions and prepared to plan well in advance and compromise when necessary.

“But Government will not invest more in football until after it has deliberated on the Clubs' Committee (proposals) and other issues are resolved.”

Contacted last night, BFA president Larry Mussenden declined to comment on the Minister's remarks while earlier in the day BFA general secretary David Sabir also refused to comment.

Asked to shares his views on Sunday's exciting match at the NSC, Butler said: “Our team played extremely well and I did not see the brilliance in the El Salvador team that I saw in San Salvador. Considering the fact that the Salvadorean team play soccer as a career, our performance was even better than could be expected.”

Butler described the atmosphere at the Prospect stadium as “electrifying”.

“It was by far the best atmosphere I have ever experienced and our Ministry is proud of the fact that ten other sports associations came with banners supporting our national football team. Breaking down the barrier that exists between sports was great,” he added.

“Yes, I am very disappointed we were ousted as I was sure we would win. Mr. Thompson (national coach) is a good coach and the players like him and respond to him very well. I was very proud to see the team do so well and very proud to see Bermudians of all walks of life come together with a real spirit that made the game electrifying.”