promotion and relegation format and an increase in admission charges are among a series of recommendations by a committee set up to investigate the restructuring of soccer in Bermuda.

A Premier League and First and Second Divisions of eight teams each should replace the current First, Second and Alliance Divisions -- a reduction of six teams from 30 to 24 -- according to the Restructuring Committee's report, obtained this week by The Royal Gazette .

Promotion and relegation would be restricted to one team only, with the bottom side in the Second Division being required to reapply along with new teams wanting to gain entry.

The recommended system would reduce the number of games played from 212 to 168 over a season, says the document, which the BFA have had in their possession for more than a year but have refused to make public.

The BFA claim they instigated the 30-page report and were therefore not compelled to release its contents. And yesterday BFA president Neville Tyrell held his ground, insisting it was meant for "work in progress only.'' However, one member of the committee, which was appointed in April, 1996, admitted to being "stunned'' it has never been made available to the public.

The committee was headed by former BFA president Calvin Smith, and included another past president, Donald Dane, along with John Bento, Carlyle Crockwell, Elliott Jennings, and Rick Richardson. Randy Horton acted as a consultant.

Among other matters considered in the report are behaviour at matches, the development of national teams at each age level, media relations, style of play, development of referees and coaches, the organisation of leagues and other competitions and the upgrading of facilities.

On the much-publicised drug abuse problem, it was suggested that the BFA should approach soccer's world governing body, FIFA, about the successful control of drugs in "other jurisdictions.'' Many of these recommendations have subsequently been included in Government's drug-free sports policy to be implemented next year.

With gate receipts remaining the primary source of direct income for clubs and the BFA, the committee recommends that admission prices be increased.

They suggest prices for regular Premier Division games be upped from $3 to $5 for adults and to $3 for children aged 9 to 16. First Division games should rise from $3 to $4 -- $2 for children -- they say, with charges for the new Second Division games being $3.

Charges to cup competitions, from the opening round to the quarter-finals, should be the same as Premier Division games.

The report calls for just two games to be played on Sunday.

Recommendations were also made in the area of club grounds and behaviour of fans at matches.

Here the report reads: "The BFA and its affiliates should appoint a small committee to look into curbing the following: spectators invading pitches, use of illicit drugs on the grounds and use of foul and abusive language.'' On the question of upgrading facilities, the report declares Government was prepared to lend its assistance to all clubs that could make a fully documented request for funds "... as long as documentation included a description of the project, the reasons for its initiative, the benefits to be derived from its execution and the budgeted cost of implementing and details of how the project is to be monitored''.

The report also calls for: A Technical Director to ensure all coaches are qualified, at least by the year 2001; A Director of Referees in an effort to improve the standard of officiating on the Island as well as the number of referees; Five national teams at senior, under 23, under 19, under 17, under 15 and under 13 level with the intention of producing "winning teams by the year 2006''; All grounds to be equipped with public address systems which could be used to present event information such as team and player details; The BFA arrange a 15-30 minute TV broadcast of local matches every week during the season; The appointment of a skilled public relations team to engage in "forthright communication with (the BFA's) affiliates, sponsors, government and the electronic and print media.''