With the 2002/03 Martonmere Cup competition already in full swing, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) have decided to change the format - reverting to a system used previously.

BFA general secretary David Sabir made the announcement during yesterday's press conference at the BFA offices where Gary Darrell was again appointed senior national coach.

However, The Royal Gazette has learned that the decision to revise the Martonmere format came in for harsh criticism from club affiliates during the association's annual general meeting at Devonshire Recreation Club last Thursday.

Some clubs were reportedly agitated that the decision to implement changes to the 30 year-old competition was made behind closed doors without their proper knowledge.

But after heated debate, it was agreed that the previous format, when all six clubs involved played round-robin before the semi-finals, should again be adopted. The existing format allowed the top two teams from the previous league season to enter the semi-final stage automatically.

"The intention of the association's Competitions and Leagues Committee was to streamline the competition in line with the reduced Premier Division from ten to eight teams which automatically would have given us a four-team competition," said Sabir yesterday.

"The proposal or discussion that came up addressed the fact that the clubs themselves were more in favour of retaining for at least the present moment the current regulations pertaining to the Martonmere Cup. And they asked that the association reconsider the position that we had planned for this year in favour of a revisit some time soon.

"This was agreed by the executive and put forth to the affiliates. And as such the Martonmere Cup will revert back to the original format where in the initial stages there will again be six teams competing in a round-robin format and then it will revert to the KO phase."

This means that reigning Premier Division champions North Village and runners-up Dandy Town will now be included in the round-robin phase this season, having previously thought they were exempt until the semi-finals.

A revised schedule for the competition is expected this week.

PHC defeated Devonshire Cougars 4-1 in the opening Martonmere Cup match last Saturday and Somerset Trojans and Devonshire Colts were scheduled to play in the second match this Saturday night at BAA Field.

As a result of the changes, Sabir noted that the Women's Konica Cup competition would also have to be rescheduled as there would be four Premier Division sides competing on the same night instead of just two.

BFA League and Cup Competitions chairman Charles Clarke had said last season that possible changes to the BFA schedule were only being considered for the Dudley Eve Trophy.

Clarke, re-elected during last Thursday's meeting, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

l TheRoyal Gazette learned yesterday that PHC president Chris Furbert was voted in as BFA first vice-president over former second in command, Aldwin Savery.

Voted in as BFA executive members were: Alfred Ingham, Roxana Richardson and Savery. Gone are Tina Woods (chairman of the women's committee), Johnny Nusum (chairman of youth soccer) and Michele White.

Delroy O'Brien was re-elected as BFA treasurer while Robert Calderon retained his role as second vice-president.

Meanwhile, invitations for both full BFA membership and associate membership can now be extended to the following sporting bodies: single clubs or teams; corporate or business organisations; football or community organisations or any other organisation concerned with the sport of football in Bermuda.

Only those with full membership will be allowed to vote.

Members of Bermuda Referees' Association and Bermuda Schools Sports Federation have been granted full BFA membership.

Clubs competing in either the Premier Division or First Division are now considered full BFA members while all remaining clubs - apart from BAA who have full membership - have been granted associate status.