Wellington Oval has been closed indefinitely!

That was the announcement yesterday from the Bermuda Football Association after St.George's Cricket Club officials said the field was still unfit to play on.

The decision comes more than a month after the east end club played host to the Bermuda Motocross Open in late November.

More than 500 truck loads of rubble and five buses have remained in situ on the pitch and little appears to be being done to get the obstructions removed.

As well as giving soccer administrators a headache, with matches originally set to resume at the venue on December 7, St.George's is also the site of cricket's annual Cup Match classic this year and there are growing fears that long term damage may have been caused to the wicket.

Although St.George's president Neil Paynter refused to shed much light on the circumstances for the lengthy delay yesterday, The Royal Gazette has been made to understand that a row over pay involving promoters Bluegrass Management and overseas track builders Global Sports Promotions forced work at the ground to come to a grinding halt.

This has now left St.George's caught in the middle with all matches originally scheduled for Wellington Oval now being switched to neighbouring Lord's.

Attempts to obtain comment from Bluegrass promoters Mike Jones and David Green were unsuccessful yesterday.

It is thought the pay dispute may have arisen as long ago as June, shortly after the Monster Truck show in St.George's.

While that event was dubbed a resounding success, November's motocross extravaganza was not as heavy weekend rains kept the anticipated large crowds away.

During a November 21 interview with TheRoyal Gazette president Paynter said: "It takes two days to erect the track and one day to dismantle it," adding that organisers assured the club only minimum damage would be caused to the surface.

Yesterday he would only say: "I am not prepared to comment on the issue at the moment but I should know something by next week."