are bringing a top regional FIFA instructor to the Island next week to conduct a series of courses.

Well known Trinidad and Tobago official Osmond Downer, a long serving FIFA instructor, will be supervising the courses which will last for the entire week.

They will be held at the conference room at St. Brendan's Hospital with sessions from Monday to Friday lasting from 6.00 to 9.00 p.m. with Saturday's session taking place between the hours of 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.

"With a number of well known officials, many of whom were active on a regular basis last season, understood to be unavailable this season the hope is that new recruits will be found to help fill the expected losses as a result of the implementation of a course such as this,'' said chairman of the BFA's Referee's Committee Gregory Grimes.

"Naturally Mr. Downer will be discussing the many changes to the laws of the game combined with familiarising everybody with rules and regulations that have been in place that need further explanation. We are confident that the courses will be beneficial to both existing officials and any new people who we can persuade to join the ranks of refereeing.'' While Grimes said that he was not in position to say who will not be available for refereeing this season, he admitted that a shortage of refs was expected and help needed to be sought from the clubs to assist in finding people to offer their services.

He agreed it had been a struggle to accommodate the schedule last season with the officials who were available and to lose even one more this season would create problems.

Among those who could be missing from the scene this season are veteran Gary Cook who intends to retire, Earlston Wolfe, Dennis Nisbitt and Leroy and Anthony Wilson.