Devonshire Cougars' strikers Heys Wolfe and Raymond Beach have been suspended by Bermuda Football Association (BFA) for their involvement in a heated verbal spat with BFA youth director Kenny Thompson at the National Sports Centre (NSC) last February, can reveal.

Though BFA officials are remaining tight?lipped over a special disciplinary committee's recent findings, it is understood both players were slapped with lengthy suspensions which could see the dynamic duo ? Cougars' bread and butter in attack ? sidelined for most of the upcoming 2004-05 season.

Top brass at Devonshire Recreation Club also refused to comment on the matter over which the Premier Division club have lodged an official appeal.

The incident in which both players were alleged to have confronted Thompson voicing their displeasure at being overlooked for national team duty, occurred at the NSC during Trinidad and Tobago's tour last winter.

Both Wolfe, pictured right, and Beach were included on the initial list of players invited to train with the national team, however the pair fell out of favour with the coach after showing up for practice some two weeks after training commenced.

News of the player's dilemma comes only days after it was announced Andrew Bascome had officially taken over the helm at the Den.

According to eye-witness accounts, Beach ? last season's top scorer for the second year in succession? along with Wolfe verbally abused Thompson from the grandstand before attempting to get on to the pitch.

The pair reportedly tried to approach the Bermuda bench after their Cougars team-mate Domico Coddington had been substituted in the second half of Bermuda's 2-2 draw with their Caribbean counterparts.

In a previously-released BFA press statement, president Larry Mussenden stated: "We remind all registered players that playing football under the BFA is not a right, it is a privilege. We will not hesitate to remove that privilege from any registered player for any conduct unbecoming a football player whether it relates to an on the field incident or an off the field incident.

"The mandate of Bermuda Football Association is to promote the playing of football in Bermuda. We promote positive participation in sport and don't condone any act that detracts from the success of football."

When contacted yesterday BFA general secretary David Sabir declined to comment on the matter.

He said: "I have no comment to make until the committee have completed their work."

In recent years, Beach and Wolfe have spearheaded Cougars' attack. Beach was voted the league's Most Valuable Player in 2002-03 while Wolfe has also been reasonably consistent in front of goal.

Wolfe also earned himself the dubious distinction of becoming the first-ever player to score a hat-trick in an FA Cup final on a losing team.

Cougars lost 2-1 (after extra time) in a replay with eventual champions Dandy Town last April in a thrilling final which spanned some 240 minutes.