Ongoing retrenching of underground telephone, water and electrical power lines have delayed progress at the FIFA- funded Gym Field project in Prospect.

Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Larry Mussenden is now cautiously optimistic the installation of a synthetic surface at the 1.3 million dollar facility will be completed by next month.

The Gym Field venue is to be used as a training base for all national teams and will be fully equipped with floodlighting.

"We are behind a little on the site and the synthetic surface should be laid in September. Since we have been working on the site for about five years, this delay is not significant," said Mussenden.

"We have spent some additional time getting the under-field infrastructure in place.

"The site had live electrical, water and BTC lines running through it.

"We have had to retrench all of those lines into one major trench."

Mussenden, who intends to seek re-election during the BFA's AGM next month, is pleased to see the Gym Field scheme gradually take shape.

He said the Prospect facility had been inspected by a FIFA expert as well as by a representative from Canadian synthetic pitch manufacturers FieldTurf.

"We have (also) had FIFA synthetic surface inspector Dr Harrison visit this past weekend.

"He was very happy with the progress of the project," said Mussenden.