Former national Under-13 football coach Scott Morton has lamented the demise of the sport?s national training programme in that age group.

Morton, who has resigned from his national duties as well as those with Premier Division club North Village, revealed no further progress had been made with Bermuda?s Under-13 squad since 20 of them went on a two-week tour of Holland and Belgium last summer.

?Things have not gone as I would have liked. Since returning from the overseas trip nothing has materialised. No training has taken place.

?Things might be in the works for the youth programme but nothing was said to me,? noted the man previously in charge at under-13 level.

What made the situation particularly painful for Morton was being unable to satisfy parents? queries on the matter.

?A lot of parents stop me on the street and I have no answers for them. That?s very difficult. I think it?s important those training programmes are continued because we promised that to the players and parents and it hasn?t happened,? he said, adding that suspending the training sessions could impact negatively on football development.

Morton suggested that if the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) were unable to fulfil all their commitments, as far as youth training, they should communicate that to those involved as well as to the public.

While acknowledging the suspension of national youth training, BFA General Secretary David Sabir toldthat soccer?s national governing body remained ?committed to providing opportunities for our young players to represent Bermuda?.

However, he pointed out that a number of resources must be available.

?We are disappointed at all times when our programmes have to be suspended. It?s certainly not ideal but we are committed to getting all the parts of our programme right which is going to require a lot of discussion outside the BFA itself and we are working on these things.?

The BFA, Sabir added, have ?great optimism? that they will be able to sustain programmes on a ?more consistent basis than we have been able to in the past?.

If not, the organisation will ?be advising this community of the challenges we have?.

Meanwhile, Morton thanked the BFA for the opportunity of serving football at national level and gaining valuable international experience.

?It did a lot for my career as far as the domestic level, being involved in both that and international football at the same time. That?s contributed to the success I have had.?

Despite their financial limitations, he noted, the BFA had been ?doing a good job of providing international competition? for the senior national team.

?I think our team is getting good exposure and it gives us a good gauge of where we are and where we need to be.?

He urged the BFA to adopt a ?more inclusive? policy towards coaches as ?collective thinking? could herald better results internationally.

?Talking to different coaches, getting their opinions on different players and those types of things, I think would help a lot.

?One of the main reasons for that is that you?re looking for support from the coaches who have the players in the clubs week in and week out. It?s important those coaches feel their input is accepted.?

Morton, who spent five years with North Village, also thanked his wife, the club and players for their support in his coaching development.

?Without them I wouldn?t have achieved what I have or be where I am now,? he said.