Bermuda Football Association yesterday confirmed the resignation of their Director of Youth Development Kenny Thompson ? a day after it was revealed by this newspaper.

And BFA president Larry Mussenden admitted he had hoped to renew Thompson?s contract when it expired at the end of May this year.

But he stopped short of saying that the coach would be replaced, noting that the BFA would ?use this opportunity to assess the needs of having a Youth Director and a Technical Director?. Praising Thompson for his work within the BFA, Mussenden said he had ?made an enormous contribution to football throughout his entire career . . .?

?Kenny has provided advice, direction and expertise to the BFA and we are most grateful for this. Additionally, Kenny has been instrumental in planning and beginning to establish national youth football academies, and key aspects of our youth programme, both at the domestic and international level.

?Indeed, Kenny has been the coach of some of our national youth squads that have advanced in group play in the Caribbean region.?

While Thompson was relieved last summer of his temporary post as national senior coach following Bermuda?s elimination from the World Cup qualifiers, and eventually replaced by Kyle Lightbourne, Mussenden added: ?We are so grateful for Kenny?s leadership that allowed us to pursue our aims of being one of the best senior national teams in the Caribbean region.

?Together, the BFA is and, I am personally, saddened by Kenny?s departure as he has been a solid, trustworthy member of the Family of Football. I wish that he was staying because we still have a long way to go on the path that he has set for us and he could have taken us from strength to strength.

?Kenny has now decided to move on to other areas of interests. We wish him well and we know that his future employers will have a strong, committed first class member in their organisation.

?We are confident that Kenny will remain involved in football in Bermuda in some material way. Perhaps, with a club, as a coach of one of our national teams, or knowing Kenny, on an initiative of his own. We are hopeful that Kenny will stay involved with the BFA so that we can remain the beneficiary of these talents.?

Thompson is expected to make a statement today regarding his resignation.