club affiliates in favour of a new policy that limits the maximum payout to just $1,000.

A task force formed at the Bermuda Football Association's semi-annual general meeting on January 27 to investigate ways to improve the transfer policy came up with several recommendations that were all approved at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The amount of money changing hands between clubs in the event of a transfer will now be as follows, with the BFA retaining $100: Players aged 16-21 -- a fee up to $1,000 Under 23 -- a fee up to $750 Under 25 -- a fee up to $500 Over 25 -- the club shall have no claim to compensation.

David Sabir, General Secretary of the BFA, said that the new policy was an overall improvement and represented a move that was in the best interests of the players, clubs and soccer as a whole.

"There is a lot of good in the decision by the affiliates to accept the recommendations of the task force,'' he said.

"We see the new article as being user friendly, we see it as an equitable resolution in that it protects the interests of those clubs who have invested and who continue to invest in youth programmes across the board, from mini minors through to juniors.

"It also creates an incentive to those clubs to get on with the issue of creating the youth programmes across the board.'' The affiliates voted by a majority to accept the recommendations which are effective April 1.

Included on the task force were representatives from the BFA executive committee, the Bermuda Schools Sports Federation, Devonshire Colts, Hotels Internationals, North Village, Prospect, Somerset CC and Wolves.

They conducted their own survey of sentiments expressed by affiliates at the semi-annual meeting.

For several years affiliates have been unhappy with the original wording of the transfer policy and problems have developed on a regular basis.

Sabir believes that now that the amendments are in place much of the controversy will be avoided.

"The recommended article 8c includes a provision that allows both clubs to get together along with the player wishing to transfer, to resolve any matters before it is placed into the hands of a neutral body ... the transfer objection committee which will consist of honorary vice presidents,'' he said.

The final two places for next month's Friendship and Shield finals will be determined tonight at Devonshire Rec. when two semi-finals take place.

Defending First Division champions Vasco, who could officially become ex-champions on Saturday night, will be looking to replace that trophy with the Friendship when they meet North Village in the 9.00 match. The 7.00 opener will see Hotels, the Second Division champions, taking on Prospect in the Shield semi-final.

Form would suggest Vasco and Hotels emerging as winners but those two teams were also rated as favourites against Wolves in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the FA Cup and failed to live up to expectations.

While the Vasco-Village match should be close, Hotels should be too strong for a Prospect side who have won just once in the league this season. On the weekend Hotels thrashed Prospect 7-2 to clinch promotion.

However, strange things have been known to happen in the cup competitions, with Paget surprising everybody last season by winning the trophy, beating Second Division champions Devonshire Cougars in the final. Paget were also then bottom of the Second Division with just one win.

Prospect have reached two Shield finals in recent years, losing to BAA in the 1993 final and Southampton Rangers in '95.

Vasco have not enjoyed a good season by their own lofty standards and this competition will likely be their final chance at silverware this season. Last weekend at Devonshire Rec. they came from 2-0 down to beat Devonshire Cougars 3-2 in the league, but it is in cup competitions where they have struggled at the Rec. lately.

Last season they were beaten by St. George's in the Friendship and more recently Wolves sent them crashing out of the FA Cup in the season's biggest upset.

Lights problems at PHC Stadium have forced Friday's First Division match between Vasco and PHC to be put back to Sunday. In the Women's League match between PHC Teasers and BAA Telecom, also scheduled for Friday, Teasers have been awarded the points because Telecom cannot field a team.