Association yesterday to abide by its own constitution and bye-laws after the governing body changed its mind over the issue of 10 teams in the First Division next season.

The meeting of the executives on Wednesday was designed, apparently, to reach a decision over who would fill the void left by the withdrawal of Hotels during the summer.

Instead, the executives came out of the meeting having decided to stick with the original decision to play with just nine teams in the First Division -- two weeks after president Charlie Marshall said the association "was obligated to fill the void caused by Hotels''.

Yesterday, Crockwell, whose club was most likely to have benefitted from Hotels' withdrawal, said his concerns were for the game in general and not St.

David's Cricket Club.

"I'm not doing this on behalf of St. David's,'' he said. "I'm looking out for the best interest of soccer all-round. The BFA has gone against the constitution and bye-laws that govern the First Division.

"The governing body has shown a disregard for the constitution and bye-laws.

How can they expect the affiliates to abide by the same constitution and bye-laws?'' When the original decision was made to stick with nine teams in the First Division a petition was taken to the association by Crockwell containing the "minimum required'' seven signatures from presidents and secretaries of First and Second Division clubs calling on the BFA to reconsider.

Crockwell referred to two guidelines governing the operation of the First and Second Divisions to support his argument: Law 4A, which reads: "The members of the competition shall be at the discretion of the executive committee who shall have the power from time to time to determine the number of teams in each division. No revision shall be instituted unless at least one-year's notice has been given by the executive committee.'' and Law 4c II, which reads: "Additional vacancies caused by the retirement of a team or by the withdrawal of a member from competition shall be filled by the executive committee.'' Said Crockwell: "These two show that the executives of the BFA have total disregard for the constitution.'' Yesterday, when explaining the association's position, administrative assistant David Sabir said there was a discrepancy over the intrepretation of the constitution and that the executives decided to go with nine teams.

"It was thought that it was in the best interests of association football in 1993-94 that the executive keep the number of teams at nine,'' said Sabir.

A letter sent to the affiliates by the BFA recently attempted to clear up the confusion over the constitution.

"As you know association football is to operate wholly on the provisions as outlined in the constitution,' the letter began.

"Although there may be times of negligence regarding the enforcement of the policies contained therein it is important that the football fraternity in Bermuda function under the guidelines of our most respected constitutions.

"The discrepancies that evolved at the AGM has (sic) placed much sceptism on whether or not we are abiding by the regulation of the current `law book'.'' In the petition taken to the BFA by Crockwell, the suggestion was that there be a play-off involving two or three of St. David's and Hamilton Parish -- both relegated -- and Wolves, the third-placed team in the Second Division, to determine the team to occupy Hotels' spot.

Instead of one of the three teams being chosen, the association reverted to its previous decision to stick with nine teams.

"This decision is taking football in Bermuda backwards,'' added Crockwell.

"We're calling on the BFA to adhere to the letter that a meeting be called so these things can be discussed. I'm sure once the meeting is called all the affiliates will be there and that they (BFA) should let the affiliates tell them what they want.

"If they went on feedback from the affiliates there would be 10 teams in the First Division next season.'' Crockwell said the matter of nine teams should not have been an issue at Wednesday's meeting, with the association having already made the decision to increase the First Division to 10 teams.

"They are totally confused up there. I made a mistake when I was refereeing and corrected it.'' The withdrawal of Paget from the Second Division means that for the first time both divisions will be operating with nine teams, with the respective leagues limited to four matches on any given weekend.

Neither Marshall nor Sabir could be contacted for further comment yesterday.